IL-17 Antagonistic Antibodies

ABSTRACT

An IL-17 binding molecule, in particular an antibody to human IL-17, more preferably a human antibody to human IL-17 is provided, wherein the hypervariable regions of the heavy and light chains have amino acid sequences as defined, for use in the treatment of an IL-17 mediated disease or disorder, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 12/707,934,filed Feb. 18, 2010, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.11/658,344, which is a National Stage of International Application No.PCT/EP05/08470 filed on Aug. 4, 2005, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,807,155on Oct. 5, 2010, which claims priority to GB0417487.6, filed Aug. 5,2004, which in their entirety are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This invention relates to an IL-17 binding molecule, in particular anantibody to human IL-17, more preferably a human antibody to human IL-17(also named IL-17A) and to the use of such antibodies in the treatmentof IL-17 mediated diseases and disorders.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

IL-17, a T-cell derived cytokine present e.g. in rheumatoid arthritis(RA), acts as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, particularly in conjunctionwith IL-1 and TNF-α (Chabaud M & Miossec P (1999) Arthritis Rheum 42,963-970; Awane M et al (1999) J. Immunol. 162, 5337-5344). IL-17 inducesMMP production and downregulates TIMP (Jovanovic D V et al (2001) J.Rheumatol. 28, 712-718), and blockage of IL-1 and IL-17 has asynergistic effect on inflammation and bone destruction in vivo (ChabaudM & Miossec (2001) Arthritis Rheum 44, 1293-1303). Inappropriate orexcessive production of IL-17 is associated with the pathology ofvarious diseases and disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (Witowskiet al., 2004 Cell Mol Life Sci 61:567-579), osteoarthritis, loosening ofbone implants, acute transplant rejection (Antonysamy et al., 1999, JImmunol 162, 577-584; van Kooten et al., 1998, J Am Soc Nephrol 9,1526-1534), septicemia, septic or endotoxic shock, allergies, asthma(Molet et al., 2001, J Allergy Clin Immunol 108, 430-438), bone loss,psoriasis (Teunissen et al., 1998, J Invest Dermatol 111, 645-649),ischemia, systemic sclerosis (Kurasawa et al., 2000, Arthritis Rheum 43,2455-2463), stroke, and other inflammatory disorders. Antibodies toIL-17 have been proposed for use in the treatment of IL-17 mediateddiseases and disorders; see for instance, WO 95/18826 and the discussionin the introduction thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

We have now prepared improved antibodies to human IL-17 suitable for usein the treatment of IL-17 mediated diseases and disorders.

Accordingly the invention provides an IL-17 binding molecule whichcomprises an antigen binding site comprising at least one immunoglobulinheavy chain variable domain (V_(H)) which comprises in sequencehypervariable regions CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 having the aminoacid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 (N-Y-W-M-N), said CDR2 having the amino acidsequence SEQ ID NO: 2 (A-I-N-Q-D-G-S-E-K-Y-Y-V-G-S-V-K-G), and said CDR3having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 3(D-Y-Y-D-I-L-T-D-Y-Y-I-H-Y-W-Y-F-D-L); or direct CDR equivalentsthereof.

Accordingly the invention also provides an IL-17 binding moleculecomprising at least one immunoglobulin light chain variable domain(V_(L)) which comprises in sequence hypervariable regions CDR1′, CDR2′and CDR3′, said CDR1′ having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 4(R-A-S-Q-S-V-S-S-S-Y-L-A), said CDR2′ having the amino acid sequence SEQID NO: 5 (G-A-S-S-R-A-T) and said CDR3′ having the amino acid sequenceSEQ ID NO: 6 (Q-Q-Y-G-S-S-P-C-T) or direct CDR′ equivalents thereof.

In another embodiment of the invention, the invention provides an IL-17binding molecule which comprises an antigen binding site comprising atleast one immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain (V_(H)) whichcomprises in sequence hypervariable regions CDR1-x, CDR2-x and CDR3-x,said CDR1-x having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 11(G-F-T-F-S-N-Y-W-M-N), said CDR2-x having the amino acid sequence SEQ IDNO: 12 (A-I-N-Q-D-G-S-E-K-Y-Y), and said CDR3-x having the amino acidsequence SEQ ID NO: 13 (C-V-R-D-Y-Y-D-I-L-T-D-Y-Y-1-H-Y-W-Y-F-D-L-W-G);or direct CDR-x equivalents thereof.

Furthermore, the invention also provides an IL-17 binding moleculecomprising both heavy (V_(H)) and light chain (V_(L)) variable domains;said IL-17 binding molecule comprises at least one antigen binding sitecomprising:

-   -   a) an immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain (V_(H)) which        comprises in sequence hypervariable regions CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3,        said CDR1 having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:1, said CDR2        having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2, and said CDR3 having        the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:3 or direct CDR equivalents        thereof; and    -   b) an immunoglobulin light chain variable domain (V_(L)) which        comprises in sequence hypervariable regions CDR1′, CDR2′ and        CDR3′, said CDR1′ having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:4,        said CDR2′ having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:5, and said        CDR3′ having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:6 or direct CDR′        equivalents thereof.

Moreover, the invention also provides an IL-17 binding moleculecomprising both heavy (V_(H)) and light chain (V_(L)) variable domains;said IL-17 binding molecule comprises at least one antigen binding sitecomprising:

-   -   a) an immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain (V_(H)) which        comprises in sequence hypervariable regions CDR1-x, CDR2-x and        CDR3-x, said CDR1-x having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:11,        said CDR2-x having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:12, and        said CDR3-x having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:13 or        direct CDR-x equivalents thereof; and    -   b) an immunoglobulin light chain variable domain (V_(L)) which        comprises in sequence hypervariable regions CDR1′, CDR2′ and        CDR3′, said CDR1′ having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:4,        said CDR2′ having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:5, and said        CDR3′ having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:6 or direct CDR′        equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a close-up view of the variable domains of the AIN457 Fab(C□ trace) with complementarity-determining regions highlighted. Alltyrosine side-chains contributed by the CDR loops are shown, toillustrate the fact that the antigen-combining site of AIN457 isexceptionally rich in tyrosine residues. The side-chain of Cys L97, atthe V_(L)-V_(H) interface, is also shown (arrow).

FIG. 2 Shows a Van der Waals surface representation of AIN457 Fab. Thelight and heavy chain are colored light and dark grey, respectively. CDRloops are highlighted in different colors. Note the presence of the veryloop H-CDR3 loop protruding out of the antigen-combining site of theantibody.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Unless otherwise indicated, any polypeptide chain is herein described ashaving an amino acid sequence starting at the N-terminal extremity andending at the C-terminal extremity. When the antigen binding sitecomprises both the V_(H) and V_(L) domains, these may be located on thesame polypeptide molecule or, preferably, each domain may be on adifferent chain, the V_(H) domain being part of an immunoglobulin heavychain or fragment thereof and the V_(L) being part of an immunoglobulinlight chain or fragment thereof.

By “IL-17 binding molecule” is meant any molecule capable of binding tothe IL-17 antigen either alone or associated with other molecules. Thebinding reaction may be shown by standard methods (qualitative assays)including, for example, a binding assay, competition assay or a bioassayfor determining the inhibition of IL-17 binding to its receptor or anykind of binding assays, with reference to a negative control test inwhich an antibody of unrelated specificity but of the same isotype, e.g.an anti-CD25 antibody, is used (see also Example 1).

Examples of antigen binding molecules include antibodies as produced byB-cells or hybridomas and chimeric, CDR-grafted or human antibodies orany fragment thereof, e.g. F(ab′)₂ and Fab fragments, as well as singlechain or single domain antibodies.

A single chain antibody consists of the variable domains of the heavyand light chains of an antibody covalently bound by a peptide linkerusually consisting of from 10 to 30 amino acids, preferably from 15 to25 amino acids. Therefore, such a structure does not include theconstant part of the heavy and light chains and it is believed that thesmall peptide spacer should be less antigenic than a whole constantpart. By “chimeric antibody” is meant an antibody in which the constantregions of heavy or light chains or both are of human origin while thevariable domains of both heavy and light chains are of non-human (e.g.murine) origin or of human origin but derived from a different humanantibody. By “CDR-grafted antibody” is meant an antibody in which thehypervariable regions (CDRs) are derived from a donor antibody, such asa non-human (e.g. murine) antibody or a different human antibody, whileall or substantially all the other parts of the immunoglobulin e.g. theconstant regions and the highly conserved parts of the variable domains,i.e. the framework regions, are derived from an acceptor antibody, e.g.an antibody of human origin. A CDR-grafted antibody may however containa few amino acids of the donor sequence in the framework regions, forinstance in the parts of the framework regions adjacent to thehypervariable regions. By “human antibody” is meant an antibody in whichthe constant and variable regions of both the heavy and light chains areall of human origin, or substantially identical to sequences of humanorigin, not necessarily from the same antibody and includes antibodiesproduced by mice in which the murine immunoglobulin variable andconstant part genes have been replaced by their human counterparts, e.g.as described in general terms in EP 0546073 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,806,U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,825, U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,126, U.S. Pat. No.5,633,425, U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,016, U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,429, EP 0 438474B1 and EP 0 463151 B1.

Particularly preferred IL-17 binding molecules of the invention arehuman antibodies, especially the AIN457 antibody as hereinafterdescribed in Examples 1 and 2.

Thus in preferred chimeric antibodies the variable domains of both heavyand light chains are of human origin, for instance those of the AIN457antibody which are shown in SEQ ID NO: 10 (=variable domain of lightchain, i.e. amino acid 1 to 109 of SEQ ID NO: 10) and SEQ ID NO: 8(=variable domain of heavy chain, i.e. amino acid 1 to 127 of SEQ ID NO:8). The constant region domains preferably also comprise suitable humanconstant region domains, for instance as described in “Sequences ofProteins of Immunological Interest”, Kabat E. A. et al, US Department ofHealth and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institute ofHealth.

Hypervariable regions may be associated with any kind of frameworkregions, though preferably are of human origin. Suitable frameworkregions are described in Kabat E. A. et al, ibid. The preferred heavychain framework is a human heavy chain framework, for instance that ofthe AIN457 antibody. It consists in sequence e.g. of FR1 (amino acid 1to 30 of SEQ ID NO: 8), FR2 (amino acid 36 to 49 of SEQ ID NO: 8), FR3(amino acid 67 to 98 of SEQ ID NO: 8) and FR4 (amino acid 117 to 127 ofSEQ ID NO: 8) regions. Taking into consideration the determinedhypervariable regions of AIN457 by X-ray analysis, another preferredheavy chain framework consists in sequence of FR1-x (amino acid 1 to 25of SEQ ID NO: 8), FR2-x (amino acid 36 to 49 of SEQ ID NO: 8), FR3-x(amino acid 61 to 95 of SEQ ID NO: 8) and FR4 (amino acid 119 to 127 ofSEQ ID NO: 8) regions. In a similar manner, the light chain frameworkconsists, in sequence, of FR1′ (amino acid 1 to 23 of SEQ ID NO: 10),FR2′ (amino acid 36 to 50 of SEQ ID NO: 10), FR3′ (amino acid 58 to 89of SEQ ID NO: 10) and FR4′ (amino acid 99 to 109 of SEQ ID NO: 10)regions.

Accordingly, the invention also provides an IL-17 binding molecule whichcomprises at least one antigen binding site comprising either a firstdomain having an amino acid sequence substantially identical to thatshown in SEQ ID NO: 8 starting with the amino acid at position 1 andending with the amino acid at position 127 or a first domain asdescribed above and a second domain having an amino acid sequencesubstantially identical to that shown in SEQ ID NO: 10, starting withthe amino acid at position 1 and ending with the amino acid at position109.

Monoclonal antibodies raised against a protein naturally found in allhumans are typically developed in a non-human system e.g. in mice, andas such are typically non-human proteins. As a direct consequence ofthis, a xenogenic antibody as produced by a hybridoma, when administeredto humans, elicits an undesirable immune response which is predominantlymediated by the constant part of the xenogenic immunoglobulin. Thisclearly limits the use of such antibodies as they cannot be administeredover a prolonged period of time. Therefore it is particularly preferredto use single chain, single domain, chimeric, CDR-grafted, or especiallyhuman antibodies which are not likely to elicit a substantial allogenicresponse when administered to humans.

In view of the foregoing, a more preferred IL-17 binding molecule of theinvention is selected from a human anti IL-17 antibody which comprisesat least a) an immunoglobulin heavy chain or fragment thereof whichcomprises (i) a variable domain comprising in sequence the hypervariableregions CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 or direct CDR equivalents thereof and (ii)the constant part or fragment thereof of a human heavy chain; said CDR1having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, said CDR2 having the aminoacid sequence SEQ ID NO: 2, and said CDR3 having the amino acid sequenceSEQ ID NO: 3; and b) an immunoglobulin light chain or fragment thereofwhich comprises (i) a variable domain comprising in sequence thehypervariable regions and optionally also the CDR1′, CDR2′, and CDR3′hypervariable regions or direct CDR′ equivalents thereof and (ii) theconstant part or fragment thereof of a human light chain, said CDR1′having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 4, said CDR2′ having the aminoacid sequence SEQ ID NO: 5, and said CDR3′ having the amino acidsequence SEQ ID NO: 6.

Alternatively, an IL-17 binding molecule of the invention may beselected from a single chain binding molecule which comprises an antigenbinding site comprising

a) a first domain comprising in sequence the hypervariable regions CDR1,CDR2 and CDR3 or direct CDR equivalents thereof, said CDR1 having theamino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, said CDR2 having the amino acidsequence SEQ ID NO: 2, and said CDR3 having the amino acid sequence SEQID NO: 3; andb) a second domain comprising the hypervariable regions CDR1′, CDR2′ andCDR3′ or direct CDR′ equivalents thereof, said CDR1′ having the aminoacid sequence SEQ ID NO: 4, said CDR2′ having the amino acid sequenceSEQ ID NO: 5, and said CDR3′ having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:6; andc) a peptide linker which is bound either to the N-terminal extremity ofthe first domain and to the C-terminal extremity of the second domain orto the C-terminal extremity of the first domain and to the N-terminalextremity of the second domain.

As it is well known, minor changes in an amino acid sequence such asdeletion, addition or substitution of one, a few or even several aminoacids may lead to an allelic form of the original protein which hassubstantially identical properties.

Thus, by the term “direct CDR equivalents thereof” are meant IL-17binding molecules comprising in sequence the hypervariable regionsCDR1_(i), CDR2_(i), and CDR3_(i), (instead of CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3),wherein

-   -   (i) the hypervariable region CDR1_(i) differs by 3, preferably        2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region        CDR1 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; and    -   (ii) the hypervariable region CDR2_(i) differs by 3, preferably        2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region        CDR2 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; and    -   (iii) the hypervariable region CDR3_(i) differs by 3, preferably        2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region        CDR3 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3; and    -   (iv) such a molecule comprising in sequence the hypervariable        regions CDR1_(i), CDR2_(i), and CDR3_(i) is capable of        inhibiting the activity of 1 nM (=30 ng/ml) human IL-17 at a        concentration of 50 nM, preferably 20 nM, more preferably 10 nM,        more preferably 5 nM of said molecule by 50%, said inhibitory        activity is measured on IL-6 production induced by hu-IL-17 in        human dermal fibroblasts.

Similarly, by the term “direct CDR-x equivalents thereof” are meantIL-17 binding molecules comprising in sequence the hypervariable regionsCDR1_(i)-x, CDR2_(i)-x, and CDR3_(i)-x, (instead of CDR1-x, CDR2-x, andCDR3-x), wherein

-   -   (v) the hypervariable region CDR1_(i)-x differs by 3, preferably        2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region        CDR1-x as shown in SEQ ID NO: 11; and    -   (vi) the hypervariable region CDR2_(i)-x differs by 3,        preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the        hypervariable region CDR2-x as shown in SEQ ID NO: 12; and    -   (vii) the hypervariable region CDR3_(i)-x differs by 3,        preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the        hypervariable region CDR3-x as shown in SEQ ID NO: 13; and    -   (viii) such a molecule comprising in sequence the hypervariable        regions CDR1_(i)-x, CDR2_(i)-x, and CDR3_(i)-x is capable of        inhibiting the activity of 1 nM (=30 ng/ml) human IL-17 at a        concentration of 50 nM, preferably 20 nM, more preferably 10 nM,        more preferably 5 nM of said molecule by 50%, said inhibitory        activity is measured on IL-6 production induced by hu-IL-17 in        human dermal fibroblasts.

Similarly, by the term “direct CDR′ equivalents thereof” is meant adomain comprising in sequence the hypervariable regions CDR1′_(i),CDR2′_(i), and CDR3′_(i), wherein

-   -   (i) the hypervariable region CDR1′_(i) differs by 3, preferably        2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region        CDR1′ as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4; and    -   (ii) the hypervariable region CDR2′_(i) differs by 3, preferably        2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region        CDR2′ as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5; and    -   (iii) the hypervariable region CDR3′_(i) differs by 3,        preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the        hypervariable region CDR3′ as shown in SEQ ID NO: 6; and    -   (iv) such a molecule comprising in sequence the hypervariable        regions CDR1′_(i), CDR2′_(i), and CDR3′_(i) is capable of        inhibiting the activity of 1 nM (=30 ng/ml) human IL-17 at a        concentration of 50 nM, preferably 20 nM, more preferably 10 nM,        more preferably 5 nM of said molecule by 50%, said inhibitory        activity is measured on IL-6 production induced by hu-IL-17 in        human dermal fibroblasts.

Alternatively, an IL-17 binding molecule of the invention may be anIL-17 binding molecule which comprises at least one antigen binding sitecomprising at least one immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain(V_(H)) which comprises in sequence

a) hypervariable regions CDR1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), CDR2 (SEQ ID NO: 2) andCDR3 (SEQ ID NO: 3); orb) hypervariable regions CDR1_(i), CDR2_(i), CDR3_(i), saidhypervariable region CDR1_(i) differs by 3, preferably 2, morepreferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region of CDR1 asshown in SEQ ID NO: 1, said hypervariable region CDR2_(i) differs by 3,preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariableregion of CDR2 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; and said hypervariable regionCDR3_(i) differs by 3, preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s)from the hypervariable region of CDR3 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3; andsaid binding IL-17 molecule comprising in sequence the hypervariableregions CDR1_(x), CDR2_(x), and CDR3_(x) is capable of inhibiting theactivity of 1 nM (=30 ng/ml) human IL-17 at a concentration of 50 nM,preferably 20 nM, more preferably 10 nM, more preferably 5 nM of saidmolecule by 50%, said inhibitory activity is measured on IL-6 productioninduced by hu-IL-17 in human dermal fibroblasts.

Similarly, an IL-17 binding molecule of the invention may be an IL-17binding molecule which comprises at least one antigen binding sitecomprising at least one immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain(V_(H)) which comprises in sequence

a) hypervariable regions CDR1-x (SEQ ID NO: 11), CDR2-x (SEQ ID NO: 12)and CDR3-x (SEQ ID NO: 13); orb) hypervariable regions CDR1_(i)-x, CDR2_(i)-x, CDR3_(i)-x, saidhypervariable region CDR1_(i)-x differs by 3, preferably 2, morepreferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region of CDR1-x asshown in SEQ ID NO: 11, said hypervariable region CDR2_(i)-x differs by3, preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariableregion of CDR2-x as shown in SEQ ID NO: 12; and said hypervariableregion CDR3_(i)-x differs by 3, preferably 2, more preferably 1 aminoacid(s) from the hypervariable region of CDR3-x as shown in SEQ ID NO:13; and said binding IL-17 molecule comprising in sequence thehypervariable regions CDR1_(i)-x, CDR2_(i)-x, and CDR3_(i)-x is capableof inhibiting the activity of 1 nM (=30 ng/ml) human IL-17 at aconcentration of 50 nM, preferably 20 nM, more preferably 10 nM, morepreferably 5 nM of said molecule by 50%, said inhibitory activity ismeasured on IL-6 production induced by hu-IL-17 in human dermalfibroblasts.

Similarly, an IL-17 binding molecule of the invention may be an IL-17binding molecule which comprises at least one antigen binding sitecomprising at least one immunoglobulin light chain variable domain(V_(L)) which comprises in sequence

a) hypervariable regions CDR′1 (SEQ ID NO: 4), CDR′2 (SEQ ID NO: 5) andCDR′3 (SEQ ID NO: 6); orb) hypervariable regions CDR1′_(i), CDR2′_(i), CDR3′_(i), saidhypervariable region CDR′1_(i) differs by 3, preferably 2, morepreferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region of CDR′1 asshown in SEQ ID NO: 4, said hypervariable region CDR′2_(i) differs by 3,preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariableregion of CDR′2 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5; and said hypervariable regionCDR′3_(i) differs by 3, preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s)from the hypervariable region of CDR′3 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 6; andsaid binding IL-17 molecule comprises in sequence the hypervariableregions CDR′1_(i), CDR′2_(i), and CDR′3_(i) is capable of inhibiting theactivity of 1 nM (=30 ng/ml) human IL-17 at a concentration of 50 nM,preferably 20 nM, more preferably 10 nM, more preferably 5 nM of saidmolecule by 50%, said inhibitory activity is measured on IL-6 productioninduced by hu-IL-17 in human dermal fibroblasts.

Alternatively, an IL-17 binding molecule of the invention may be a IL-17binding molecule comprising both heavy (V_(H)) and light chain (V_(L))variable domains and said IL-17 binding molecule comprises at least oneantigen binding site comprising:

a) an immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain (V_(H)) which comprisesin sequence hypervariable regions CDR1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), CDR2 (SEQ ID NO:2) and CDR3 (SEQ ID NO: 3); andan immunoglobulin light chain variable domain (V_(L)) which comprises insequence hypervariable regions CDR1′ (SEQ ID NO: 4), CDR2′ (SEQ ID NO:5) and CDR3′ (SEQ ID NO: 6); orb) an immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain (V_(H)) which comprisesin sequence hypervariable regions CDR1_(i), CDR2_(i), and CDR3_(i), saidhypervariable region hypervariable regions CDR1_(i), CDR2_(i), CDR3_(i),said hypervariable region CDR1_(i) differs by 3, preferably 2, morepreferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region of CDR1 asshown in SEQ ID NO: 1, said hypervariable region CDR2_(i) differs by 3,preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariableregion of CDR2 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; and said hypervariable regionCDR3_(i) differs by 3, preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s)from the hypervariable region of CDR3 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3; andan immunoglobulin light chain variable domain (V_(L)) which comprises insequence hypervariable regions CDR1′_(i), CDR2′_(i), CDR3′_(i), saidhypervariable region CDR′1_(i) differs by 3, preferably 2, morepreferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region of CDR′1 asshown in SEQ ID NO: 4, said hypervariable region CDR′2_(i) differs by 3,preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariableregion of CDR′2 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5; and said hypervariable regionCDR′3_(i) differs by 3, preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s)from the hypervariable region of CDR′3 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 6; andsaid binding IL-17 molecule defined in b) comprises in sequence thehypervariable regions CDR1_(i), CDR2_(i), CDR3_(i), CDR′1_(i),CDR′2_(i), and CDR′3_(i) is capable of inhibiting the activity of 1 nM(=30 ng/ml) human IL-17 at a concentration of 50 nM, preferably 20 nM,more preferably 10 nM, more preferably 5 nM of said molecule by 50%,said inhibitory activity is measured on IL-6 production induced byhu-IL-17 in human dermal fibroblasts.

Alternatively, an IL-17 binding molecule of the invention may be a IL-17binding molecule comprising both heavy (V_(H)) and light chain (V_(L))variable domains and said IL-17 binding molecule comprises at least oneantigen binding site comprising:

a) an immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain (V_(H)) which comprisesin sequence hypervariable regions CDR1-x (SEQ ID NO: 11), CDR2-x (SEQ IDNO: 12) and CDR3-x (SEQ ID NO: 13); andan immunoglobulin light chain variable domain (V_(L)) which comprises insequence hypervariable regions CDR1′ (SEQ ID NO: 4), CDR2′ (SEQ ID NO:5) and CDR3′ (SEQ ID NO: 6); orb) an immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain (V_(H)) which comprisesin sequence hypervariable regions CDR1_(i)-x, CDR2_(i)-x, andCDR3_(i)-x, said hypervariable region hypervariable regions CDR1_(i)-x,CDR2_(i)-x, CDR3_(i)-x, said hypervariable region CDR1_(i)-x differs by3, preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariableregion of CDR1-x as shown in SEQ ID NO: 11, said hypervariable regionCDR2_(i)-x differs by 3, preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s)from the hypervariable region of CDR2-x as shown in SEQ ID NO: 12; andsaid hypervariable region CDR3_(i)-x differs by 3, preferably 2, morepreferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region of CDR3-x asshown in SEQ ID NO: 13; andan immunoglobulin light chain variable domain (V_(L)) which comprises insequence hypervariable regions CDR1′_(i), CDR2′_(i), CDR3′_(i), saidhypervariable region CDR′1_(i) differs by 3, preferably 2, morepreferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariable region of CDR′1 asshown in SEQ ID NO: 4, said hypervariable region CDR′2_(i) differs by 3,preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s) from the hypervariableregion of CDR′2 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5; and said hypervariable regionCDR′3_(i) differs by 3, preferably 2, more preferably 1 amino acid(s)from the hypervariable region of CDR′3 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 6; andsaid binding IL-17 molecule defined in b) comprises in sequence thehypervariable regions CDR1_(i), CDR2_(i), CDR3_(i), CDR′1_(i),CDR′2_(i), and CDR′3_(i) is capable of inhibiting the activity of 1 nM(=30 ng/ml) human IL-17 at a concentration of 50 nM, preferably 20 nM,more preferably 10 nM, more preferably 5 nM of said molecule by 50%,said inhibitory activity is measured on IL-6 production induced byhu-IL-17 in human dermal fibroblasts.

The inhibition of the binding of IL-17 to its receptor may beconveniently tested in various assays including such assays aredescribed hereinafter in the text. By the term “to the same extent” ismeant that the reference and the equivalent molecules exhibit, on astatistical basis, essentially identical IL-17 inhibitory activity inone of the assays referred to herein (see Example 1). For example, IL-17binding molecules of the invention typically have IC₅₀s for theinhibition of human IL-17 on IL-6 production induced by human IL-17 inhuman dermal fibroblasts which are within +/−x5, i.e. below 10 nM, morepreferably 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 or 2 nM of that of, preferablysubstantially the same as, the IC₅₀ of the corresponding referencemolecule when assayed as described in Example 1.

Alternatively, the assay used may be an assay of competitive inhibitionof binding of IL-17 by soluble IL-17 receptors (e.g. the human IL-17R/Fc constructs of Example 1) and the IL-17 binding molecules of theinvention.

Most preferably, the human IL-17 antibody comprises at least

a) one heavy chain which comprises a variable domain having an aminoacid sequence substantially identical to that shown in SEQ ID NO: 8starting with the amino acid at position 1 and ending with the aminoacid at position 127 and the constant part of a human heavy chain; andb) one light chain which comprises a variable domain having an aminoacid sequence substantially identical to that shown in SEQ ID NO: 10starting with the amino acid at position 1 and ending with the aminoacid at position 109 and the constant part of a human light chain.

The constant part of a human heavy chain may be of the γ₁, γ₂, γ₃, γ₄,μ, α₁, α₂, δ or ε type, preferably of the γ type, more preferably of theγ₁ type, whereas the constant part of a human light chain may be of theκ or λ type (which includes the λ₁, λ₂ and λ₃ subtypes) but ispreferably of the κ type. The amino acid sequences of all these constantparts are given in Kabat et al (supra).

Conjugates of the binding molecules of the invention, e.g. enzyme ortoxin or radioisotope conjugates, are also included within the scope ofthe invention.

“Polypeptide”, if not otherwise specified herein, includes any peptideor protein comprising amino acids joined to each other by peptide bonds,having an amino acid sequence starting at the N-terminal extremity andending at the C-terminal extremity. Preferably the polypeptide of thepresent invention is a monoclonal antibody, more preferred is a chimeric(also called V-grafted) or humanized (also called CDR-grafted)monoclonal antibody, most preferred a fully human antibody obtainablee.g. by the technology exemplified in Example 1. The humanized(CDR-grafted) or fully human monoclonal antibody may or may not includefurther mutations introduced into the framework (FR) sequences of theacceptor antibody.

A functional derivative of a polypeptide as used herein includes amolecule having a qualitative biological activity in common with apolypeptide to the present invention, i.e. having the ability to bind tothe human IL-17. A functional derivative includes fragments and peptideanalogs of a polypeptide according to the present invention. Fragmentscomprise regions within the sequence of a polypeptide according to thepresent invention, e.g. of a specified sequence. The term “derivative”is used to define amino acid sequence variants, and covalentmodifications of a polypeptide according to the present invention. e.g.of a specified sequence. The functional derivatives of a polypeptideaccording to the present invention, e.g. of a specified sequence, e.g.of the hypervariable region of the light and the heavy chain, preferablyhave at least about 65%, more preferably at least about 75%, even morepreferably at least about 85%, most preferably at least about 95, 96,97, 98, 99% overall sequence homology with the amino acid sequence of apolypeptide according to the present invention, e.g. of a specifiedsequence, and substantially retain the ability to bind the human IL-17or e.g. neutralize IL-6 production of IL-17 induced human dermalfibroblasts.

The term “covalent modification” includes modifications of a polypeptideaccording to the present invention, e.g. of a specified sequence; or afragment thereof with an organic proteinaceous or non-proteinaceousderivatizing agent, fusions to heterologous polypeptide sequences, andpost-translational modifications. Covalent modified polypeptides, e.g.of a specified sequence, still have the ability to bind the human IL-17or e.g. neutralize IL-6 production of IL-17 induced human dermalfibroblasts by crosslinking. Covalent modifications are traditionallyintroduced by reacting targeted amino acid residues with an organicderivatizing agent that is capable of reacting with selected sides orterminal residues, or by harnessing mechanisms of post-translationalmodifications that function in selected recombinant host cells. Certainpost-translational modifications are the result of the action ofrecombinant host cells on the expressed polypeptide. Glutaminyl andasparaginyl residues are frequently post-translationally deamidated tothe corresponding glutamyl and aspartyl residues. Alternatively, theseresidues are deaminated under mildly acidic conditions. Otherpost-translational modifications include hydroxylation of proline andlysine, phosphorylation of hydroxyl groups of seryl, tyrosine orthreonyl residues, methylation of the α-amino groups of lysine,arginine, and histidine side chains, see e.g. T. E. Creighton, Proteins:Structure and Molecular Properties, W. H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco,pp. 79-86 (1983). Covalent modifications e.g. include fusion proteinscomprising a polypeptide according to the present invention, e.g. of aspecified sequence and their amino acid sequence variants, such asimmunoadhesins, and N-terminal fusions to heterologous signal sequences.

“Homology” with respect to a native polypeptide and its functionalderivative is defined herein as the percentage of amino acid residues inthe candidate sequence that are identical with the residues of acorresponding native polypeptide, after aligning the sequences andintroducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve the maximum percent homology,and not considering any conservative substitutions as part of thesequence identity. Neither N- or C-terminal extensions nor insertionsshall be construed as reducing identity or homology. Methods andcomputer programs for the alignment are well known.

“Amino acid(s)” refer to all naturally occurring L-α-amino acids, e.g.and including D-amino acids. The amino acids are identified by eitherthe well known single-letter or three-letter designations.

The term “amino acid sequence variant” refers to molecules with somedifferences in their amino acid sequences as compared to a polypeptideaccording to the present invention, e.g. of a specified sequence. Aminoacid sequence variants of a polypeptide according to the presentinvention, e.g. of a specified sequence, still have the ability to bindthe human IL-17 or e.g. neutralize IL-6 production of IL-17 inducedhuman dermal fibroblasts. Substitutional variants are those that have atleast one amino acid residue removed and a different amino acid insertedin its place at the same position in a polypeptide according to thepresent invention, e.g. of a specified sequence. These substitutions maybe single, where only one amino acid in the molecule has beensubstituted, or they may be multiple, where two or more amino acids havebeen substituted in the same molecule. Insertional variants are thosewith one or more amino acids inserted immediately adjacent to an aminoacid at a particular position in a polypeptide according to the presentinvention, e.g. of a specified sequence. Immediately adjacent to anamino acid means connected to either the α-carboxy or α-amino functionalgroup of the amino acid. Deletional variants are those with one or moreamino acids in a polypeptide according to the present invention, e.g. ofa specified sequence, removed. Ordinarily, deletional variants will haveone or two amino acids deleted in a particular region of the molecule.

An IL-17 binding molecule of the invention may be produced byrecombinant DNA techniques. In view of this, one or more DNA moleculesencoding the binding molecule must be constructed, placed underappropriate control sequences and transferred into a suitable hostorganism for expression.

In a very general manner, there are accordingly provided

-   (i) DNA molecules encoding a single domain IL-17 binding molecule of    the invention, a single chain IL-17 binding molecule of the    invention, an IL-17 binding molecule comprising a heavy and light    chain as defined herein, or fragments of a IL-17 binding molecule of    the invention; and-   (ii) the use of the DNA molecules of the invention for the    production of a IL-17 binding molecule of the invention by    recombinant means.

Accordingly, the invention provides a DNA molecule encoding an IL-17binding molecule as described above.

Furthermore, the invention provides a DNA construct comprising a DNAmolecule which is substantially homologous to SEQ ID NO: 7 or SEQ ID NO:9.

Furthermore, the invention provides a DNA construct comprising two DNAmolecules of which one is substantially homologous to SEQ ID NO: 7 or isa direct DNA_(H) equivalent thereof and the other substantiallyhomologous to SEQ ID NO: 9, or is a direct DNA_(L) equivalent thereof.

The present state of the art is such that the skilled worker in the artis able to synthesize the DNA molecules of the invention given theinformation provided herein i.e. the amino acid sequences of thehypervariable regions and the DNA sequences coding for them. A methodfor constructing a variable domain gene is for example described in EPA239 400 and may be briefly summarized as follows: A gene encoding avariable domain of a MAb of whatever specificity is cloned. The DNAsegments encoding the framework and hypervariable regions are determinedand the DNA segments encoding the hypervariable regions are removed sothat the DNA segments encoding the framework regions are fused togetherwith suitable restriction sites at the junctions. The restriction sitesmay be generated at the appropriate positions by mutagenesis of the DNAmolecule by standard procedures. Double stranded synthetic CDR cassettesare prepared by DNA synthesis according to the sequences encoding forSEQ ID NO: 1 (CDR1), SEQ ID NO: 2 (CDR2), SEQ ID NO: 3 (CDR3), SEQ IDNO: 4 (CDR1′), SEQ ID NO: 5 (CDR2′), SEQ ID NO: 6 (CDR6′), SEQ ID NO: 11(CDR1-x), SEQ ID NO: 12 (CDR2-x), SEQ ID NO: 13 (CDR3-x). Thesecassettes are provided with sticky ends so that they can be ligated atthe junctions of the framework

Furthermore, it is not necessary to have access to the mRNA from aproducing hybridoma cell line in order to obtain a DNA construct codingfor the IL-17 binding molecules of the invention. Thus PCT applicationWO 90/07861 gives full instructions for the production of an antibody byrecombinant DNA techniques given only written information as to thenucleotide sequence of the gene. The method comprises the synthesis of anumber of oligonucleotides, their amplification by the PCR method, andtheir splicing to give the desired DNA sequence.

Expression vectors comprising a suitable promoter or genes encodingheavy and light chain constant parts are publicly available. Thus, oncea DNA molecule of the invention is prepared it may be convenientlytransferred in an appropriate expression vector. DNA molecules encodingsingle chain antibodies may also be prepared by standard methods, forexample, as described in WO 88/1649.

In analogy to the case for CDR equivalents, the term “direct DNA_(H)equivalents thereof” is meant to stand for a first DNA constructencoding a heavy chain or fragment thereof of an IL-17 binding moleculeof the invention and comprises:

a) a first part which encodes a variable domain comprising alternativelyframework and hypervariable regions, said hypervariable regions being insequence CDR1_(i), CDR2_(i) and CDR3_(i), said CDR1_(i) is at least 50%homologous, preferably at least 60, 70, 80, 85, or 90% homologous, morepreferably at least 95% homologous to the hypervariable region CDR1 asshown in SEQ ID NO: 1, said CDR2i is at least 50% homologous, preferablyat least 60, 70, 80, 85, or 90% homologous, more preferably at least 95%homologous to the hypervariable region CDR2 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2,and CDR3_(i) is at least 50% homologous, preferably at least 60, 70, 80,85, or 90% homologous, more preferably at least 95% homologous to thehypervariable region CDR3 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3; this first partstarting with a codon encoding the first amino acid of the variabledomain and ending with a codon encoding the last amino acid of thevariable domain; andb) a second part encoding a heavy chain constant part or fragmentthereof which starts with a codon encoding the first amino acid of theconstant part of the heavy chain and ends with a codon encoding the lastamino acid of the constant part or fragment thereof, followed by a stopcodon; andc) said DNA construct encoding for a polypeptide which is capable eitheralone or in combination with another polypeptide of inhibiting theactivity of 1 nM (=30 ng/ml) human IL-17 at a concentration of 50 nM,preferably 20 nM, more preferably 10 nM, more preferably 5 nM of saidmolecule by 50%, said inhibitory activity is measured on IL-6 productioninduced by hu-IL-17 in human dermal fibroblasts.

Similarly, the term “direct DNA_(H)-x equivalents thereof” is meant tostand for a first alternative DNA construct encoding a heavy chain orfragment thereof of an IL-17 binding molecule of the invention andcomprises:

a) a first part which encodes a variable domain comprising alternativelyframework and hypervariable regions, said hypervariable regions being insequence CDR1_(i)-x, CDR2_(i)-x and CDR3_(i)-x, said CDR1_(i)-x is atleast 50% homologous, preferably at least 60, 70, 80, 85, or 90%homologous, more preferably at least 95% homologous to the hypervariableregion CDR1 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 11, said CDR2_(i)-x is at least 50%homologous, preferably at least 60, 70, 80, 85, or 90% homologous, morepreferably at least 95% homologous to the hypervariable region CDR2 asshown in SEQ ID NO: 12, and CDR3_(i)-x is at least 50% homologous,preferably at least 60, 70, 80, 85, or 90% homologous, more preferablyat least 95% homologous to the hypervariable region CDR3 as shown in SEQID NO: 13; this first part starting with a codon encoding the firstamino acid of the variable domain and ending with a codon encoding thelast amino acid of the variable domain; andb) a second part encoding a heavy chain constant part or fragmentthereof which starts with a codon encoding the first amino acid of theconstant part of the heavy chain and ends with a codon encoding the lastamino acid of the constant part or fragment thereof, followed by a stopcodon; andc) said DNA construct encoding for a polypeptide which is capable eitheralone or in combination with another polypeptide of inhibiting theactivity of 1 nM (=30 ng/ml) human IL-17 at a concentration of 50 nM,preferably 20 nM, more preferably 10 nM, more preferably 5 nM of saidmolecule by 50%, said inhibitory activity is measured on IL-6 productioninduced by hu-IL-17 in human dermal fibroblasts.

Preferably, these DNA constructs encode a variable domain comprisingalternatively framework and hypervariable regions, said hypervariableregions being in sequence CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 having theamino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, said CDR2 having the amino acidsequence SEQ ID NO: 2, and said CDR3 having the amino acid sequence SEQID NO: 3. More preferably, these DNA constructs encode a variable domaincomprising alternatively framework and hypervariable regions, saidhypervariable regions being in sequence CDR1-x, CDR2-x and CDR3-x, saidCDR1-x having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 11, said CDR2-x havingthe amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 12, and said CDR3-x having the aminoacid sequence SEQ ID NO: 13. More preferably, this first part encodes avariable domain having an amino acid sequence substantially identical tothe amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 8 starting with the aminoacid at position 1 and ending with the amino acid at position 127. Morepreferably the first part has the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ IDNO: 7 starting with the nucleotide at position 1 and ending with thenucleotide at position 381. Also preferably, the second part encodes theconstant part of a human heavy chain, more preferably the constant partof the human γ1 chain. This second part may be a DNA fragment of genomicorigin (comprising introns) or a cDNA fragment (without introns).

Similarly, the term “direct DNA_(L) equivalents thereof” is meant tostand for a second DNA construct encoding a light chain or fragmentthereof of an IL-17 binding molecule of the invention and comprises:

a) a first part which encodes a variable domain comprising alternativelyframework and hypervariable regions; said hypervariable regions beingCDR3_(i)′ and optionally CDR1_(i)′ and CDR2_(i)′, said CDR1_(i)′ is atleast 50% homologous, preferably at least 60, 70, 80, 85, or 90%homologous, more preferably at least 95% homologous to the hypervariableregion CDR1′ as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4, said CDR2_(i)′ is at least 50%homologous, preferably at least 60, 70, 80, 85, or 90% homologous, morepreferably at least 95% homologous to the hypervariable region CDR2′ asshown in SEQ ID NO: 5, and said CDR3_(i)′ is at least 50% homologous,preferably at least 60, 70, 80, 85, or 90% homologous, more preferablyat least 95% homologous to the hypervariable region CDR3′ as shown inSEQ ID NO: 6; this first part starting with a codon encoding the firstamino acid of the variable domain and ending with a codon encoding thelast amino acid of the variable domain; andb) a second part encoding a light chain constant part or fragmentthereof which starts with a codon encoding the first amino acid of theconstant part of the light chain and ends with a codon encoding the lastamino acid of the constant part or fragment thereof followed by a stopcodon; andc) said DNA construct encoding for a polypeptide which is capable eitheralone or in combination with another polypeptide of inhibiting theactivity of 1 nM (=30 ng/ml) human IL-17 at a concentration of 50 nM,preferably 20 nM, more preferably 10 nM, more preferably 5 nM of saidmolecule by 50%, said inhibitory activity is measured on IL-6 productioninduced by hu-IL-17 in human dermal fibroblasts.

Preferably, this second DNA construct encodes a variable domaincomprising alternatively framework and hypervariable regions, saidhypervariable regions being in sequence CDR1′, CDR2′ and CDR3′, saidCDR1′ having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 4, said CDR2′ having theamino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 5, and said CDR3′ having the amino acidsequence SEQ ID NO: 6. More preferably, this first part of the secondDNA construct encodes a variable domain having an amino acid sequencesubstantially identical to the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ IDNO: 10 starting with the amino acid at position 1 and ending with theamino acid at position 109. More preferably, the first part has thenucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 9 starting with thenucleotide at position 1 and ending with the nucleotide at position 327.Also preferably the second part encodes the constant part of a humanlight chain, more preferably the constant part of the human κ

Preferably, the first and second DNA construct will be used together,but may be also used separately.

The invention also includes IL-17 binding molecules in which one or moreof the amino acid residues of CDR1, CDR2, CDR3, CDR1-x, CDR2-x, CDR3-x,CDR1′, CDR2′ or CDR3′ or the frameworks, typically only a few (e.g.1-4), are changed; for instance by mutation e.g. site directedmutagenesis of the corresponding DNA sequences. The invention includesthe DNA sequences coding for such changed IL-17 binding molecules. Inparticular the invention includes IL-17 binding molecules in which oneor more residues of CDR1′ or CDR2′ have been changed from the residuesshown in SEQ ID NO: 4 (for CDR1′) and SEQ ID NO: 5 (for CDR2′).

In the first and second DNA constructs, the first and second parts maybe separated by an intron, and, an enhancer may be conveniently locatedin the intron between the first and second parts. The presence of suchan enhancer which is transcribed but not translated, may assist inefficient transcription. In particular embodiments the first and secondDNA constructs comprise the enhancer of a heavy chain geneadvantageously of human origin.

Each of the DNA constructs are placed under the control of suitablecontrol sequences, in particular under the control of a suitablepromoter. Any kind of promoter may be used, provided that it is adaptedto the host organism in which the DNA constructs will be transferred forexpression.

The desired antibody may be produced in a cell culture or in atransgenic animal. A suitable transgenic animal may be obtainedaccording to standard methods which include micro injecting into eggsthe first and second DNA constructs placed under suitable controlsequences transferring the so prepared eggs into appropriatepseudo-pregnant females and selecting a descendant expressing thedesired antibody.

When the antibody chains are produced in a cell culture, the DNAconstructs must first be inserted into either a single expression vectoror into two separate but compatible expression vectors, the latterpossibility being preferred.

Accordingly, the invention also provides an expression vector able toreplicate in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell line which comprises atleast one of the DNA constructs above described.

Each expression vector containing a DNA construct is then transferredinto a suitable host organism. When the DNA constructs are separatelyinserted on two expression vectors, they may be transferred separately,i.e. one type of vector per cell, or co-transferred, this latterpossibility being preferred. A suitable host organism may be abacterium, a yeast or a mammalian cell line, this latter beingpreferred. More preferably, the mammalian cell line is of lymphoidorigin, e.g. a myeloma, hybridoma or a normal immortalised B-cell, whichconveniently does not express any endogenous antibody heavy or lightchain.

For expression in mammalian cells it is preferred that the IL-17 bindingmolecule coding sequence is integrated into the host cell DNA within alocus which permits or favours high level expression of the IL-17binding molecule. Cells in which the IL-17 binding molecule codingsequence is integrated into such favourable loci may be identified andselected on the basis of the levels of the IL-17 binding molecule whichthey express. Any suitable selectable marker may be used for preparationof host cells containing the IL-17 binding molecule coding sequence; forinstance, a dhfr gene/methotrexate or equivalent selection system may beused. Alternative systems for expression of the IL-17 binding moleculesof the invention include GS-based amplification/selection systems, suchas those described in EP 0256055 B, EP 0323997 B and European patentapplication 89303964.4.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a process for theproduct of an IL-17 binding molecule which comprises (i) culturing anorganism which is transformed with an expression vector as defined aboveand (ii) recovering the IL-17 binding molecule from the culture.

For the purposes of the present description an antibody is “capable ofinhibiting the binding of IL-17 as AIN457” if the antibody is capable ofinhibiting the binding of IL-17 to its receptor substantially to thesame extent as the AIN457 antibody, wherein “to the same extent” hasmeaning as defined above.

The AIN457 antibody has binding affinity for IL-17 which is higher thanaffinities previously reported for anti-IL-17 antibodies, in particularto any anti human IL-17 antibodies. Thus AIN457 has a dissociationequilibrium constant K_(D) for binding to IL-17 of about 0.188±0.036 nM(determined by BIAcore, e.g. as shown in Example 2). This high bindingaffinity makes the AIN457 antibody particularly suitable for therapeuticapplications.

In the present description the phrase “11-17 mediated disease”encompasses all diseases and medical conditions in which IL-17 plays arole, whether directly or indirectly, in the disease or medicalcondition, including the causation, development, progress, persistenceor pathology of the disease or condition.

In the present description the terms “treatment” or “treat” refer toboth prophylactic or preventative treatment as well as curative ordisease modifying treatment, including treatment of patient at risk ofcontracting the disease or suspected to have contracted the disease aswell as patients who are ill or have been diagnosed as suffering from adisease or medical condition, and includes suppression of clinicalrelapse.

IL-17 binding molecules as defined above which have binding specificityfor human IL-17, in particular antibodies which are capable ofinhibiting the binding of IL-17 to its receptor; and antibodies to IL-17which are capable of inhibiting the activity of 1 nM (=30 ng/ml) humanIL-17 at a concentration of 50 nM, preferably 20 nM, more preferably 10nM, more preferably 5 nM of said molecule by 50%, said inhibitoryactivity is measured on IL-6 production induced by hu-IL-17 in humandermal fibroblasts, are herein referred to as Antibodies of theInvention.

Preferably the Antibodies of the Invention are human antibodies, mostpreferably the AIN457 antibody or direct equivalents thereof.

The Antibodies of the Invention block the effects of IL-17 on its targetcells and thus are indicated for use in the treatment of IL-17 mediateddiseases and disorders. These and other pharmacological activities ofthe Antibodies of the Invention may be demonstrated in standard testmethods for example as described below:

Neutralization of IL-17 dependent production of interleukin-6 by primaryhuman fibroblasts: The production of IL-6 in primary human (dermal)fibroblasts is dependent on IL-17 (Hwang S Y et al., (2004) ArthritisRes Ther; 6:R120-128.

In short, human dermal fibroblasts are stimulated with recombinant IL-17in the presence of various concentrations of Antibody of the Inventionor human IL-17 receptor with Fc part. The chimeric anti-CD25 antibodySimulect® (basiliximab) is used as a negative control. Supernatant istaken after 16 h stimulation and assayed for IL-6 by ELISA. Antibodiesof the Invention typically have IC₅₀s for inhibition of IL-6 production(in the presence 1 nM human IL-17) of about 50 nM or less (e.g. fromabout 0.01 to about 50 nM) when tested as above, i.e. said inhibitoryactivity is measured on IL-6 production induced by hu-IL-17 in humandermal fibroblasts. Preferably, the Antibodies of the Invention have anIC₅₀ for inhibition of IL-6 production as defined above of about 20 nMor less, more preferably of about 10 nM or less, more preferably ofabout 5 nM or less, more preferably of about 2 nM or less, morepreferably of about 1 nM or less.

As indicated in the above assay Antibodies of the Invention potentlyblock the effects of IL-17. Accordingly, the Antibodies of the Inventionhave pharmaceutical utility as follows:

Antibodies of the Invention are useful for the prophylaxis and treatmentof IL-17 mediated diseases or medical conditions, e.g. inflammatoryconditions, allergies and allergic conditions, hypersensitivityreactions, autoimmune diseases, severe infections, and organ or tissuetransplant rejection.

For example, Antibodies of the Invention may be use for the treatment ofrecipients of heart, lung, combined heart-lung, liver, kidney,pancreatic, skin or corneal transplants, including allograft rejectionor xenograft rejection, and for the prevention of graft-versus-hostdisease, such as following bone marrow transplant, and organ transplantassociated arteriosclerosis.

Antibodies of the Invention are particularly useful for the treatment,prevention, or amelioration of autoimmune disease and of inflammatoryconditions, in particular inflammatory conditions with an aetiologyincluding an autoimmune component such as arthritis (for examplerheumatoid arthritis, arthritis chronica progrediente and arthritisdeformans) and rheumatic diseases, including inflammatory conditions andrheumatic diseases involving bone loss, inflammatory pain,spondyloarhropathies including ankolsing spondylitis, Reiter syndrome,reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and enterophathis arthritis,hypersensitivity (including both airways hypersensitivity and dermalhypersensitivity) and allergies. Specific auto-immune diseases for whichAntibodies of the Invention may be employed include autoimmunehaematological disorders (including e.g. hemolytic anaemia, aplasticanaemia, pure red cell anaemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenia),systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory muscle disorders,polychondritis, scleredoma, Wegener granulomatosis, dermatomyositis,chronic active hepatitis, myasthenia gravis, psoriasis, Steven-Johnsonsyndrome, idiopathic sprue, autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease(including e.g. ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and Irritable BowelSyndrome), endocrine ophthalmopathy, Graves disease, sarcoidosis,multiple sclerosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, juvenile diabetes(diabetes mellitus type I), uveitis (anterior and posterior),keratoconjunctivitis sicca and vernal keratoconjunctivitis, interstitiallung fibrosis, psoriatic arthritis and glomerulonephritis (with andwithout nephrotic syndrome, e.g. including idiopathic nephrotic syndromeor minimal change nephropathy), tumors, multiple sclerosis, inflammatorydisease of skin and cornea, myositis, loosening of bone implants,metabolic disorders, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, anddislipidemia.

Antibodies of the Invention are also useful for the treatment,prevention, or amelioration of asthma, bronchitis, pneumoconiosis,pulmonary emphysema, and other obstructive or inflammatory diseases ofthe airways.

Antibodies of the Invention are useful for treating undesirable acuteand hyperacute inflammatory reactions which are mediated by IL-17 orinvolve IL-17 production, or the promotion of TNF release by IL-17, e.g.acute infections, for example septic shock (e.g., endotoxic shock andadult respiratory distress syndrome), meningitis, pneumonia; and severeburns; and for the treatment of cachexia or wasting syndrome associatedwith morbid TNF release, consequent to infection, cancer, or organdysfunction, especially AIDS-related cachexia, e.g., associated with orconsequential to HIV infection.

Antibodies of the Invention are particularly useful for treatingdiseases of bone metabolism including osteoarthritis, osteoporosis andother inflammatory arthritides, and bone loss in general, includingage-related bone loss, and in particular periodontal disease.

For these indications, the appropriate dosage will, of course, varydepending upon, for example, the particular Antibody of the Invention tobe employed, the host, the mode of administration and the nature andseverity of the condition being treated. However, in prophylactic use,satisfactory results are generally indicated to be obtained at dosagesfrom about 0.05 mg to about 10 mg per kilogram body weight more usuallyfrom about 0.1 mg to about 5 mg per kilogram body weight. The frequencyof dosing for prophylactic uses will normally be in the range from aboutonce per week up to about once every 3 months, more usually in the rangefrom about once every 2 weeks up to about once every 10 weeks, e.g. onceevery 4 to 8 weeks. Antibody of the Invention is convenientlyadministered parenterally, intravenously, e.g. into the antecubital orother peripheral vein, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously. Aprophylactic treatment typically comprises administering the Antibody ofthe Invention once per month to once every 2 to 3 months, or lessfrequently.

The Antibodies of the Invention may be administered as the sole activeingredient or in conjunction with, e.g. as an adjuvant to or incombination to, other drugs e.g. immunosuppressive or immunomodulatingagents or other anti-inflammatory agents, e.g. for the treatment orprevention of diseases mentioned above. For example, the Antibodies ofthe Invention may be used in combination with DMARD, e.g. Gold salts,sulphasalazine, antimalarias, methotrexate, D-penicillamine,azathioprine, mycophenolic acid, cyclosporine A, tacrolimus, sirolimus,minocycline, leflunomide, glococorticoids; a calcineurin inhibitor, e.g.cyclosporin A or FK 506; a modulator of lymphocyte recirculation, e.g.FTY720 and FTY720 analogs; a mTOR inhibitor, e.g. rapamycin,40-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-rapamycin, CCI779, ABT578, AP23573 or TAFA-93; anascomycin having immuno-suppressive properties, e.g. ABT-281, ASM981,etc.; corticosteroids; cyclo-phos-phamide; azathioprene; methotrexate;leflunomide; mizoribine; mycophenolic acid; myco-pheno-late mofetil;15-deoxyspergualine or an immunosuppressive homologue, analogue orderivative thereof; immunosuppressive monoclonal antibodies, e.g.,monoclonal antibodies to leukocyte receptors, e.g., MHC, CD2, CD3, CD4,CD7, CD8, CD25, CD28, CD40. CD45, CD58, CD80, CD86 or their ligands;other immunomodulatory compounds, e.g. a recombinant binding moleculehaving at least a portion of the extracellular domain of CTLA4 or amutant thereof, e.g. an at least extracellular portion of CTLA4 or amutant thereof joined to a non-CTLA4 protein sequence, e.g. CTLA4Ig (forex. designated ATCC 68629) or a mutant thereof, e.g. LEA29Y; adhesionmolecule inhibitors, e.g. LFA-1 antagonists, ICAM-1 or -3 antagonists,VCAM-4 antagonists or VLA-4 antagonists; or a chemotherapeutic agent,e.g. paclitaxel, gemcitabine, cisplatinum, doxorubicin or5-fluorouracil; anti TNF agents, e.g. monoclonal antibodies to TNF, e.g.infliximab, adalimumab, CDP870, or receptor constructs to TNF-RI orTNF-RII, e.g. Etanercept, PEG-TNF-R1; blockers of proinflammatorycytokines, IL-1 blockers, e.g. Anakinra or IL-1 trap, AAL160, ACZ 885,IL-6 blockers; chemokines blockers, e.g inhibitors or activators ofproteases, e.g. metalloproteases, anti-IL-15 antibodies, anti-IL-6antibodies, anti-CD20 antibodies, NSAIDs, such as aspirin or ananti-infectious agent (list not limited to the agent mentioned).

In accordance with the foregoing the present invention provides in a yetfurther aspect:

A method as defined above comprising co-administration, e.g.concomitantly or in sequence, of a therapeutically effective amount ofan IL-17 binding molecule, e.g. an Antibody of the Invention, and atleast one second drug substance, said second drug substance being aimmuno-suppressive/immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory chemotherapeuticor anti-infectious drug, e.g. as indicated above.

Or, a therapeutic combination, e.g. a kit, comprising of atherapeutically effective amount of a) an IL-17 binding molecule, e.g.an Antibody of the Invention, and b) at least one second substanceselected from a immuno-suppressive/immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatorychemotherapeutic or anti-infectious drug, e.g. as indicated above. Thekit may comprise instructions for its administration.

Where the Antibodies of the Invention are administered in conjunctionwith other immuno-suppressive/immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatorychemotherapeutic or anti-infectious therapy, dosages of theco-administered combination compound will of course vary depending onthe type of co-drug employed, e.g. whether it is a DMARD, anti-TNF, IL-1blocker or others, on the specific drug employed, on the condition beingtreated and so forth.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be manufactured inconventional manner. A composition according to the invention ispreferably provided in lyophilized form. For immediate administration itis dissolved in a suitable aqueous carrier, for example sterile waterfor injection or sterile buffered physiological saline. If it isconsidered desirable to make up a solution of larger volume foradministration by infusion rather as a bolus injection, it isadvantageous to incorporate human serum albumin or the patient's ownheparinized blood into the saline at the time of formulation.Alternatively, the formulation is given subcutaneous. The presence of anexcess of such physiologically inert protein prevents loss of antibodyby adsorption onto the walls of the container and tubing used with theinfusion solution. If albumin is used, a suitable concentration is from0.5 to 4.5% by weight of the saline solution. Other formulationscomprise liquid or lyophilized formulation.

The invention is further described by way of illustration in thefollowing Examples.

EXAMPLES

Transgenic mice engineered to express the human IgG/K repertoire insteadof the murine immunoglobulin repertoire (Fishwild et al., 1996, Nat.Biotechnol., 14, 845-851) are used to generate antibodies to humanIL-17. B cells from these mice are immortalized by standard hybridomatechnology and murine hybridoma cells are obtained which secrete thehuman IgG1/κ antibody AIN457.

Example 1 Generation of the Hybridoma, Purification of the Antibodies,Selection of AIN457 Antibody

Production of recombinant human IL-17 (huIL-17): Recombinant huIL-17 iseither produced in E. coli in inclusion bodies and refolded byconventional techniques (produced in house carrier free (E. coli;Novartis Pharma, batch BM-E3141/98) or bought (carrier free, E. coli;R&D Systems #317-IL/CF)) or as secreted and partially glycosylatedprotein in HEK.EBNA (Recombinant huIL-17, carrier free (IL-17 APP-C6from transfected HEK/EBNA cells; Novartis Pharma, batch En.E-3382/82;0.28 mg/ml; recombinant huIL-17, carrier free (IL-17 APP-C4 fromtransfected HEK/EBNA cells; Novartis Pharma, batch En.E-3382/83; 0.29mg/ml)). The latter form features a C-terminal 4 amino acids extensionfor rapid purification from culture supernatants by immunoaffinitychromatography. In this case, culture supernatants are loaded on acolumn of appropriate size of a specific immobilized anti-tag antibodycoupled to CNBr activated Sepharose 4B at a density of 10 mg/ml resinfollowing the manufacturer's instructions (Pharmacia). After base-linewashing with PBS, bound huIL-17 is eluted with 100 mM glycine, pH 2.7and immediately neutralized with diluted NaOH.

Coupling of huIL-17 to Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH): HuIL-17 producedin either E. coli or HEK.EBNA is coupled to KLH pre-activated with anexcess of the homobifunctional cross-linker Disuccinimidyl suberate(DSS). Briefly, 20 mg lyophilized Imject® Mariculture KLH (Pierce#77600) are reconstituted with 2 ml H₂O to give a 10 mg/ml solutioncontaining Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), pH 7.2. To this solution 400μl of 250 mM DSS in Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) are added and the mixturestirred for about 1 hr at room temperature (not all the reagentdissolved and some precipitate formed). After a brief centrifugation andfiltration (0.45 μm) the solution is then desalted on Sephadex G25 fine(Pharmacia) in PBS (flow rate 2 ml/min) yielding about 11 mg activatedKLH at 1.5 mg/ml (Bradford). 1 ml of the activated KLH (1.5 mg) is mixedwith 1 ml of a 9 mg/ml solution in water of lyophilyzed E. coli derivedhuIL-17 (batch BM-E3141/98). The solution remains clear and is incubatedfor 2 hrs at room temperature. The concentration of the resultingcomplex is 1.4 mg/ml (measured by Bradford). 1 ml of the activated KLH(1.5 mg) is mixed with 1 ml of HEK.EBNA huIL-17 (about 3 mg in water;batch En.E-3382/83). The solution remains clear and is incubated for 2hrs at room temperature. Concentration (Bradford) is 2.9 mg/ml.

Immunization: The genetically engineered mouse 27340 (female; MEDAREXInc, Annandale, N.J.) in which the murine immunoglobulin variable andconstant part genes are functionally replaced by their humancounterparts (Genotype Tg code 221100-TgH (CMD)++; TgN(Hco7)11952+;TgH(JKD)++; TgN(KCO5)9272+ (see also Sherie L. Morrison, 1994, Nature,Vol. 368, p. 812-813; Nils Lonberg et al., 1994, Nature, Vol. 368, p.856-859) is immunized following the scheme reported in table 1.

TABLE 1 Immunization schedule Dose and route of Day Date Immunogenimmunization 0 07.06.01 HuIL-17 (BM-E3141/98) coupled to KLH 25 μg ofeach s.c. in two mixed 1:1 with huIL-17 (BM-E3141/98) in spots; totalvolume/mouse Gerbu adjuvant with adjuvant 100 μl 14 21.06.01 HuIL-17(BM-E3141/98) coupled to KLH 25 μg of each s.c. in two (1^(st) boost)mixed 1:1 with huIL-17 (En.E-3382/83) spots; total volume/mouse coupledto KLH in Gerbu adjuvant with adjuvant 100 μl 28 05.07.01 HuIL-17(BM-E3141/98) mixed 1:1 with 10 μg of each s.c. in two (2^(nd) boost)huIL-17 (En.E-3382/83) in Gerbu adjuvant spots; total volume/mouse withadjuvant 100 μl 35 12.07.01 Sera collected for ELISA 42 19.07.01 HuIL-17(BM-E3141/98) mixed 1:1 with 20 μg of each s.c. in two (3^(rd) boost)huIL-17 (En.E-3382/83) coupled to KLH in spots; total volume/mouse Gerbuadjuvant with adjuvant 100 μl 63 09.08.01 HuIL-17 (BM-E3141/98) coupledto KLH 20 μg of each s.c. in two (4^(th) boost) mixed 1:1 with huIL-17(En.E-3382/83) spots; total volume/mouse coupled to KLH in Gerbuadjuvant with adjuvant 100 μl 91 06.09.01 HuIL-17 (BM-E3141/98) mixed1:1 with 20 μg of each s.c. in two (5^(th) boost) huIL-17 (En.E-3382/83)in Gerbu adjuvant spots; total volume/mouse with adjuvant 100 μl 9914.09.01 Sera collected for ELISA 117 02.10.01 HuIL-17 (En.E-3382/83) 10μg/mouse i.v. HuIL-17 (En.E-3382/83) coupled to KLH 10 μg/mouse i.p. 11803.10.01 HuIL-17 (En.E-3382/83) coupled to KLH 10 μg/mouse i.p. 11904.10.01 HuIL-17 (En.E-3382/83) coupled to KLH 10 μg/mouse i.p. 12005.10.01 fusion

Sera samples are obtained 35 and 99 days after the start of theimmunization protocol, for measuring levels of anti-huIL17 antibody byenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Generation of hybridomas: On day 120, mouse 27340 is killed by CO₂inhalation. Total spleen cells (1×10⁸) are fused with PAI-0 cells (5×10⁷cells) using PEG 4000. Fused cells are plated out in 720 wells (1ml/well), containing a feeder layer of mouse peritoneal cells (Balb/cmice), in HAT medium (RPMI 1640 containing 2 g/l Sodium Bicarbonate,5×10⁻⁵M β-Mercaptoethanol, 10⁻⁴ M Hypoxanthine, 1.6×10⁻⁵ M Thymidine,4×10⁻⁷ M Aminopterin, 10% heat inactivated FCS and 50 μg/ml Gentamycin).At day 14, HAT medium is exchanged with HT medium i.e. HAT mediumwithout Aminopterin. Screening starts on day 10, and lasts two weeks. Ofthe initial 720 wells plated, 684 wells (95%) are positive for hybridomagrowth. Supernatants are collected and screened for huIL-17 reactive MAbin ELISA using both the E. coli and the HEK/EBNA derived huIL-17.Fifty-two primary wells score positive for the presence of anti-huIL-17antibodies. Twenty-eight hybridomas are cloned and the remaining onesare frozen. Cloning is done, in 4×96 well microtiter plates, in HTmedium and a feeder layer of mouse peritoneal cells. Hybridomas areplated at 0.5 cell/100 μl per well. Wells are screened microscopicallyfor growth, and positive ones are fed 100 μl of HT medium. The followingday, supernatants are tested for antibody production in a huIL-17specific ELISA. Upon cloning, the majority of the cloned hybridomasretain the capacity to secrete anti-huIL-17 specific Monoclonal Antibody(MAb).

Production and purification of antibody: The selected clones aretransferred in serum free medium (5 ml) into 25 cm² TC (TC: tissueculture) flasks. Hybridomas are progressively expanded in serum freemedium to 75 cm² TC flasks and roller flasks. All the differentanti-hu-IL-17 MAb including NVP-AIN457-NX (340-110-28 i.e. mousenumber-hybridoma number-clone number) are purified by Protein A affinitychromatography. Culture supernatants are adjusted to pH 7.3 and loadedon a column of appropriate size of Protein A Sepharose 4 fast flow(Pharmacia). After base-line washing with 100 mM phosphate buffer, pH7.3 bound antibodies are eluted with 50 mM citrate, pH 2.7, 140 mM NaCl.The eluted fraction is immediately neutralized (pH 7.0) and sterilefiltered. Protein concentration is determined by absorption at 280 nmusing a factor of 1.35 Absorption Unit (AU)/mg.

Inhibitory activity of anti-huIL-17 MAb on IL-6 production induced byhuIL-17 in human dermal fibroblasts: Human dermal fibroblasts arecultured in FBM supplemented with 2% FCS, insulin (5 μg/ml) huFGF-basic(0.1 μg/ml) and Gentamycin (50 μg/ml). The fibroblasts are detached fromplastic using a Trypsin/EDTA solution. Fibroblasts are distributed into96 well microtiter plates at a density of 1×10⁴ cells/well in FBMsupplemented with 1% FCS. Fibroblasts are allowed to adhere to theplates overnight. The next morning medium is removed and fresh FBMsupplemented with 1% FCS, huIL-17 (different concentrations ranging from30 to 500 ng/ml) and hybridoma supernatants (1/5 final dilution) orpurified antibodies are added to a final volume of 200 μl. Culturesupernatants are collected after an incubation of 24 h and huIL-6production is measured by ELISA.

ELISA for detection of anti-huIL-17 antibodies: ELISA microtiter platesare coated with recombinant huIL-17 (100 μl/well at 3 μg/ml; batchBM-E3141/98 or En.E-3382/82) in PBS 0.02% NaN₃ and incubated overnightat room temperature. The following day, microtiter plates are blockedwith 300 μl of PBS/2% BSA/0.02% NaN₃ for 2 h at 37° C. Plates are thenwashed 4 times with PBS/0.05% Tween 20/0.02% NaN₃ Serum dilutions ofmouse 27340 (final dilution range at day 35: 1/100 to 1/3200; finaldilution range at day 99: 1/200 to 1/12800; 100 μl/well) or culturesupernatants of hybridomas (final dilution 1:3; 100 μl/well) are added.After an overnight incubation at room temperature, plates are washed 4times with PBS/0.05% Tween 20/0.02% NaN₃. A biotin-conjugated mouseanti-hu-IgG, Fc fragment specific antibody is added at a final dilutionof 1/20000 (100 μl/well). Samples are left to react for 4 h at roomtemperature. After washing (4 times), alkaline phosphatase-conjugatedstreptavidin is added at a final dilution of 1/8000 (100 μl/well). After40 minutes at room temperature, plates are washed again 4 times and thesubstrate (p-nitrophenylphosphate in diethylamino buffer pH 9.8; 150μl/well) is added. Plates are read after 30 or 45 min depending on thedevelopment of the reaction in a microtiter reader (Bio-Rad) usingfilters of 405 and 490 nm.

ELISA for detection of antibody isotype: For revealing the isotype ofthe MAb, culture supernatants (100 μl; final dilution 1/5) are added tothe wells of microtiter plates coated with huIL-17 (see above), andincubated overnight at room temperature. After washing (4 times), 100μl/well of biotin-conjugated mouse MAbs anti-human IgG1 (final dilution1/1000), IgG2 (final dilution 1/1000), IgG3 (final dilution 1/1000) IgG4(final dilution 1/2000) or anti human κ light chain (final dilution1/1000) are added for 4 h at room temperature. As a control abiotin-conjugated rat anti-mouse λ1 and λ2 light chain specific MAb isused (final dilution 1/1000). This is followed as previously describedby washing and addition of alkaline phosphatase-conjugated streptavidin(100 μl; final dilution 1/8000). After washing (4 times) the substrate(p-nitrophenylphosphate in diethylamino buffer; 100 μl) is added. Platesare read after 30 or 45 min depending on development of reaction, in amicrotiter reader (Bio-Rad) using filters of 405 and 490 nm.

ELISA for detection of huIL-6 production: ELISA microtiter plates arecoated with an anti-huIL-6 mouse MAb (MAB206 from R&D system; 100μl/well at 4 μg/ml) in PBS 0.02% NaN₃ and incubated overnight at roomtemperature. The following day, microtiter plates were blocked with 300μl of PBS/2% BSA/0.02% NaN₃ for 2 h at 37° C. Plates were then washed 4times with PBS/0.05% Tween 20/0.02% NaN₃ Culture supernatants of humandermal fibroblasts (final dilution 1:3; 100 μl/well) were added. Toestablish a titration curve huIL-6 (100 μl/well) is titrated from 400pg/ml to 3.1 pg/ml in 1:2 dilution steps. After an overnight incubationat room temperature, plates are washed 4 times with PBS/0.05% Tween20/0.02% NaN₃. A biotin-conjugated goat anti-huIL-6 antibody (BAP206;R&D Systems) is added (25 ng/ml; 100 μl/well). Samples are left to reactfor 4 h at room temperature. After washing (4 times), alkalinephosphatase-conjugated streptavidin is added at a final dilution of1/8000 (100 μl/well). After 40 minutes at room temperature, plates arewashed again 4 times and the substrate (p-nitrophenylphosphate indiethylamino buffer pH 9.8; 150 μl/well) is added. Plates are read after30 min in a microtiter reader (Bio-Rad) using filters of 405 and 490 nm.

Calculations: Values are reported as original O.D. values or as %inhibition calculated on the means of duplicate values. Additional dataare reported as Means±SEM. An huIL-6 standard curve was used to measurehuIL-6 concentration in culture supernatants by using a cubic curve fit.

Results Serum Titers of Mouse 27340:

TABLE 2 Anti-huIL-17 serum titers (mouse 27340) HuIL- Serum dilution 17O.D. values (Means ± SEM) Day batch* 1:100 1:200 1:400 1:800 1:16001:3200 1:6400 1:12800 35 E. coli 1.795 ± 0.022 1.524 ± 0.006 1.167 ±0.015 0.854 ± 0.013 0.615 ± 0.005 0.378 ± 0.032 HEK/ 2.180 ± 0.041 1.875± 0.005 1.577 ± 0.047 1.313 ± 0.016 1.031 ± 0.011 0.728 ± 0.003 EBNA 99E. coli 2.130 ± 0.078 1.913 ± 0.075 1.635 ± 0.041 1.494 ± 0.066 1.125 ±0.001 0.810 ± 0.070 0.559 ± 0.021 HEK/ 2.029 ± 0.005 1.925 ± 0.030 1.716± 0.012 1.524 ± 0.004 1.259 ± 0.018 0.970 ± 0.036 0.706 ± 0.002 EBNA*Microtiter plates were coated with huIL-17 (3 μg/ml) from E. coli(BM-E3141/98) or HEK/EBNA cells (En.E-3382/82).

The serum of mouse 27340 is analyzed in ELISA for the presence ofanti-huIL-17 antibodies on days 35 and 99 on two different preparationsof huIL-17 (Table 2). Results show that serum titers of mouse 27340increase about fourfold between day 35 and day 99 and that both huIL-17preparations are recognized.

Binding in ELISA of hybridoma supernatants: 684 supernatants are testedin ELISA for the presence of anti-huIL-17 antibodies, using twopreparations of recombinant huIL-17, the former from E coli(BM-E3141/98) the latter from HEK/EBNA cells (En.E-3382/82). Fifty-twosupernatants score positive for the presence of anti-huIL-17 antibodies(Table 3). Preferential binding to one or the other preparation ofhuIL-17 is observed in a few cases. The 28 hybridomas that aresubsequently cloned are underlined.

TABLE 3 ELISA reactivity of culture supernatants HuIL-17 batch*Hybridoma E. coli HEK/EBNA (No) O.D. values O.D. values  1 1.935/1.830ND  3 1.928/1.928 2.026/1.956  5 1.386/1.471 2.099/2.042  59 1.917/2.0782.342/2.384  66 1.629/1.619 ND 104 2.650/2.716 2.439/2.366 1061.329/1.371 1.362/1.465 110 2.355/2.363 2.425/2.497 112 0.789/0.8571.154/1.208 116 1.656/1.652 ND 128 1.244/1.669 0.714/0.695 1421.192/1.322 0.847/0.810 173 1.899/2.108 1.966/2.023 182 0.948/0.9030.874/0.866 190 2.249/2.084 2.150/2.139 196 1.406/1.305 1.797/1.752 2161.120/1.146 1.114/1.128 234 1.890/1.990 ND 277 1.674/1.640 ND 2850.678/0.789 0.735/0.784 298 2.475/2.677 2.340/2.358 305 1.721/1.7890.602/0.634 319 1.111/1.073 1.223/1.202 328 1.738/1.762 1.869/1.835 3432.478/2.702 2.302/2.448 373 1.200/1.194 1.212/1.233 386 1.780/1.8122.002/1.905 435 2.194/2.139 2.221/2.169 439 1.180/1.236 1.442/1.470 4441.034/1.066 1.166/1.138 450 2.060/2.209 2.079/2.237 477 1.392/1.3481.515/1.524 496 2.131/2.078 2.569/2.798 504 1.755/1.559 ND 5432.332/2.455 2.370/2.381 544 1.145/1.196 1.187/1.201 548 0.728/0.7500.891/0.909 552 0.824/0.811 0.969/0.943 557 2.241/2.326 2.347/2.483 5640.628/0.675 0.808/0.820 566 1.092/1.068 1.239/1.152 577 1.018/0.9281.226/1.206 597 0.781/0.821 1.117/1.121 612 1.935/1.777 2.033/1.989 6222.121/2.230 2.592/2.277 627 1.000/1.077 1.203/1.209 649 1.335/1.3891.311/1.337 658 1.218/1.297 1.415/1.437 674 1.112/1.087 1.134/1.127 6861.447/1.549 1.730/1.646 705 1.899/1.803 1.870/1.872 720 2.249/2.4202.383/2.385 *Plates are coated with recombinant huIL-17 (3 μg/ml) fromE. coli (BM-E3141/98) or HEK/EBNA cells (En.E-3382/82). Supernatants aretested at the final dilution of ⅓.

Binding in ELISA of culture supernatants of the hybridoma clones: Thereactivity in ELISA of the supernatants of the clones of the 11hybridomas, which retained the best production of anti-huIL-17 MAb, isshown in Table 4. The clones, highlighted in bold, were selected forproducing ˜1 liter of supernatant in roller bottles for purification andanalysis of the antibodies. With the exception of the clones derivedfrom the hybridoma No 5, which produced a huIgG3κ antibody, all theother clones produced huIgG1κ MAb, as assessed by isotype specificmonoclonal antibodies.

TABLE 4 ELISA reactivity of culture supernatants for hu-IL-17. CloneSupernatants* (No) O.D. values  3-2 2.198/1.940  3-20 1.909/1.939  3-211.873/1.812  5-18 1.240/1.168  5-22 1.340/1.396  5.29 1.316/1.354  5.311.227/1.302  5-40 1.364/1.543 104-2 1.385/1.299 104-4 1.085/1.044 104-91.488/1.304 104-11 1.670/1.380 106-1 1.244/1.306 106.2 1.203/1.138 106-31.176/1.166 110-7 1.535/1.393 110-28 1.376/1.370 305-21 1.484/1.518305-38 1.669/1.858 343-1 1.351/1.375 439-80 2.506/2.543 450-131.568/1.610 450-23 1.658/1.667 543-1 1.074/0.991 543-4 1.003/0.913543-16 0.795/0.717 557-6 0.879/0.940 557-36 0.980/0.925 557-371.104/1.109 622-2 0.923/0.894 622-5 1.070/1.032 622-6 0.980/0.953 658-20.744/0.744 658-6 0.769/0.772 658-16 0.741/0.758 Microtiter plates arecoated with recombinant huIL-17 (3 μg/ml) from HEK/EBNA cells(En.E-3382/82).

Neutralizing activity of culture supernatants: Culture supernatants aretested for inhibition of huIL-6 production by human dermal fibroblastsstimulated with recombinant huIL-17. As shown in Table 5, the majorityof the culture supernatants show inhibitory activity.

TABLE 5 Inhibition of IL-6 production induced by huIL-17 in human dermalfibroblasts by culture supernatants Inhibition of IL-6 production (%)Amount of huIL-17 Clone used as stimulus (ng/ml) (No) 62.5 125 250 500 3-20 86.3 75.0 33.1 23.2  5-40 23.3 41.4 20.3 19.0 104-11 47.7 48.522.2 16.3 106.1 61.6 19.8 5.7 9.8 110-28 99.8 92.5 88.6 61.3 305-38 47.247.1 36.6 23.7 343-1 96.8 102.4 90.5 66.4 450-23 51.7 48.5 47.5 26.6543.4 −6.0 −12.0 −6.5 −7.1 622-2 34.0 23.2 20.3 18.4 658-16 34.4 27.712.7 18.8

Neutralizing activity of AIN45: Selection of clone 110-28 for theproduction of development candidate AIN457 (preferred embodiment of theinvention) is based on neutralizing activity and affinity measurement onBIACORE 2000 of the purified antibodies (see below Example 2).

Example 2 AIN457 Binds with Very High Affinity to Recombinant HumanIL-17 (huIL-17); the K_(D) is 122±22 pM (BIAcore) and Neutralizes HumanIL-6 Production Induced by huIL-17 in Human Dermal Fibroblast; IC50 is2.1±0.1 nM at a Concentration of 1.87 nM huIL-17 a) Methods

Reagents: General laboratory reagents are purchased from Merck or Sigmaand are of the highest purity grade available; the sources of specialtyreagents are detailed below.

Proteins: Monoclonal antibodies are generated by immunizing MEDAREXtransgenic mice with recombinant human IL-17, and then following thestandard procedure for producing cell lines, from which the secretedmaterial could be purified by Protein A Sepharose chromatography[essentially as described in Example 1). AIN457 is stored as asterile-filtered solution in 50 mM Na-citrate, pH 7.0, 140 mM NaCl at 4°C. The recombinant human AIN457 (batch KB03303A) is obtained in sterilestock solution of either 20 mM Na-citrate/40 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7,150 mM NaCl or 20 mM acetic acid pH 5.5 adjusted with 1M Tris-base.Concentrations are usually in the range of 2 mg/ml and diluted to afinal concentration of 5 μg/ml into BIA buffer (20 mM HEPES, pH 7.4, 150mM NaCl, 0.05% v/v Tween-20) for the Biacore experiments. Recombinanthuman IL-17 is produced in-house; batch En/E 3882/83; 0.29 mg/ml.

BIAcore Measurements

Determination of kinetic binding parameters and levels ofcrossreactivity are done by surface plasmon resonance measurements usingthe optical biosensor BIAcore 2000 (BIAcore AB, Upsalla, Sweden, seeLit. HS1,2 for details). This technology allows the label-freedetermination the microscopic rate constants for binding (k_(on)) anddissociation (k_(off)) of a ligand to a receptor. It is thereforeespecially suited for characterizing the antibody-antigen interactions.This technology complements and is in many respects superior to ELISAmeasurements (Van Regenmortel, Dev Biol (Basel). 2003; 112:141-51.).Binding studies of recombinant IL-17 to the IL-17 antibody AIN457 areperformed in two ways. In the standard protocol, AIN457 is captured byan anti-human Fey antibody (Jackson Immunochemicals; Cat. No.109-005-098) that is previously immobilized onto a CM-5 BIAcore sensorchip (Research grade). Covalent binding of Fey capture antibody is donewith the ‘Amine coupling kit’ provided by BIAcore (BIAcore, Cat. No.BR-1000-50). Typically, 3000 RUs of capture antibody are attached to theactivated dextran surface with a 30 μg/ml anti Fcγ antibody solution in10 mM Ac buffer, pH 4.5 at a flow rate of 5 μl/min which lead toapproximately 250 RUs of AIN457 immobilization. As a guideline, 1000 RUscorrespond to a mass transfer of 1 ng/mm². Alternatively, IL-17 (Section3.2; Table 4), AIN457 antibody is coupled directly to the chip surfacewithout capture antibody. The results are compared to the protocoldescribed in Table 9 (see below).

b) Results Binding Kinetics of the IL-17/AIN457 Complex

The equilibrium dissociation constant K_(D) allows some judgment aboutthe stability of complexes, once formed in vivo. We have thereforedetermined kinetic constants for the binding of human IL-17 to theimmobilized AIN457 antibody, and have derived the K_(D) for the processfrom these data. Table 3 shows the summary of data obtained when thecurves of 2 experiments are fitted to the Langmuir model using theBIAevaluation 3.0 software. Although the antibody is, of course,bivalent, the binding can be treated as a 1:1 event, with individualantibody binding sites displayed at the surface that become occupied bymonomeric IL-17 molecules.

This experiment shows both, the extremely fast association as well asthe very slow dissociation kinetics of the antibody-chemokine complex.The best data fit is obtained when the sensorgrams are treatedindividually (rather than globally, as is suggested in theBIAevaluation.) Thus, after combining the titration series we obtainaverage values from 12 sensorgrams of k_(on)=(4.1±0.1)×10⁵ l/M s;k_(on)=(3.8±0.5) x10⁻⁴ l/s; and for K_(D)=122±22 pM.

TABLE 3 Kinetic constants for the 1:1 binding of rec human IL-17 toNVP-AIN457 Conc [nM] kon [1/Ms] koff [1/s] KD [M] Exp. IL-314 2 3.31E+053.36E−05 1.02E−10 Run 1 4 1.28E+05 3.78E−05 2.95E−10 8 3.79E+05 1.86E−054.90E−11 12 3.60E+05 3.00E−05 8.33E−11 16 3.52E+05 5.70E−05 1.62E−10 203.52E+05 4.15E−05 1.18E−10 2 1.23E+06 1.97E−05 1.60E−11 Run 2 4 4.11E+051.20E−05 2.92E−11 8 3.78E+05 4.54E−05 1.20E−10 12 3.46E+05 5.13E−051.48E−10 16 3.17E+05 5.95E−05 1.88E−10 20 3.34E+05 5.01E−05 1.50E−10Mean 4.10E+05 3.80E−05 1.22E−10 n = 12 SEM 7.73E+04 4.51E−06 2.21E−11Mean K_(D) calculated from individual entries (vertically), rather thanby applying the equation K_(D) = k_(off)/k_(on).

For the AIN457 produced in recombinant cells (KB03303A) affinitymeasurements are performed for the IL-17 cytokines from man, marmoset,rhesus and cynomolgous monkey, respectively. Experimental details of theBiacore measurements are the same as described above for MAB110-28antibody. Two independent runs testing 6 IL-17 concentrations in eachrun are performed. Concentrations for human IL-17 are 2, 4, 8, 12, 16,20 nM and 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 nM for all other species. Complete dataanalysis yields n=12 individual measurements for each IL-17 species. TheK_(D) as well as SEM is reported.

TABLE 4 Summary: Kinetic constants for the 1:1 binding of rec human,marmoset, rhesus and cynomolgous monkey IL-17 to NVP-AIN457 (KB03303A)KD [M] Mean Species Run 1 + 2 SEM Human 0.227 nM    +/−0.03 nM  Marmoset1.2 nM   +/−0.1 nM Rhesus monkey 9 nM   +/−1 nM Cynomolgous 6 nM +/−0.7nM monkey

A full set data of the BIAcore analysis for antibody KB03303A withk_(on), k_(off) and K_(D) and the respective IL-17 species are givenbelow in tables 5 to 8.

TABLE 5 Kinetic constants for the 1:1 binding of rec human IL-17 toAIN457 (KB03303A) Exp. IL-366/ Conc [nM] kon [1/Ms] koff [1/s] KD [M]IL-365 2 3.37E+05 6.43E−05 1.91E−10 Run 1 4 2.59E+05 7.76E−05 2.99E−10 82.12E+05 5.21E−05 2.46E−10 12 2.18E+05 7.38E−05 3.38E−10 16 2.02E+057.15E−05 3.54E−10 20 1.92E+05 8.04E−05 4.20E−10 2 5.50E+05 7.01E−051.27E−10 Run 2 4 3.22E+05 3.30E−05 1.02E−10 8 2.85E+05 4.73E−05 1.66E−1012 2.86E+05 4.84E−05 1.69E−10 16 2.61E+05 3.09E−05 1.18E−10 20 2.58E+054.90E−05 1.90E−10 Mean 2.82E+05 5.82E−05 2.27E−10 n = 12 SEM 2.77E+044.91E−06 3.00E−11

TABLE 6 Kinetic constants for the 1:1 binding of rec marmoset IL-17 toAIN457 (KB03303A) Exp. IL-366/ Conc [nM] kon [1/Ms] koff [1/s] KD [M]IL-365 10 nM 8.89E+04 7.96E−05 8.95E−10 Run 1 20 nM 1.11E+05 8.69E−057.82E−10 30 nM 9.82E+04 1.15E−04 1.17E−09 40 nM 9.92E+04 1.16E−041.17E−09 50 nM 9.81E+04 1.19E−04 1.21E−09 10 nM 8.83E+04 9.98E−051.13E−09 Run 2 20 nM 1.10E+05 1.28E−04 1.17E−09 30 nM 9.70E+04 1.52E−041.57E−09 40 nM 9.66E+04 1.31E−04 1.36E−09 50 nM 9.52E+04 1.59E−041.67E−09 Mean 9.83E+04 1.19E−04 1.21E−09 n = 10 SEM 2.36E+03 8.09E−06±0.1

TABLE 7 Kinetic constants for the 1:1 binding of rec rhesus monkey IL-17to AIN457 (KB03303A) Exp. IL-366/ Conc [nM] kon [1/Ms] koff [1/s] KD [M]IL-365 10 1.70E+05 3.89E−04 2.28E−09 Run 1 20 6.73E+04 4.94E−04 7.34E−0930 5.86E+04 3.54E−04 6.04E−09 40 3.27E+04 4.05E−04 1.24E−08 50 4.05E+044.55E−04 1.12E−08 60 3.50E+04 4.60E−04 1.31E−08 10 5.47E+04 3.85E−047.04E−09 Run 2 20 4.62E+04 2.74E−04 5.93E−09 30 4.30E+04 3.51E−048.16E−09 40 3.76E+04 3.66E−04 9.74E−09 50 3.60E+04 4.32E−04 1.20E−08 603.44E+04 4.24E−04 1.23E−08 Mean 5.47E+04 3.99E−04 8.96E−09 n = 12 SEM1.09E+04 1.72E−05 9.70E−10

TABLE 8 Kinetic constants for the 1:1 binding of rec cynomolgous monkeyIL-17 to AIN457 (KB03303A) Exp. IL-366/ Conc [nM] kon [1/Ms] koff [1/s]KD [M] IL-365  5 nM 3.27E+05 3.60E−04 1.10E−09 Run 1 10 nM 1.79E+054.02E−04 2.24E−09 15 nM 1.03E+05 5.67E−04 5.50E−09 20 nM 1.10E+055.23E−04 4.75E−09 25 nM 9.23E+04 5.78E−04 6.26E−09 30 nM 9.05E+047.14E−04 7.89E−09  5 nM 7.18E+04 5.08E−04 7.08E−09 Run 2 10 nM 9.70E+046.69E−04 6.90E−09 15 nM 1.03E+05 7.66E−04 7.41E−09 20 nM 1.02E+057.32E−04 7.17E−09 25 nM 1.02E+05 7.47E−04 7.34E−09 30 nM 1.00E+058.34E−04 8.32E−09 Mean 1.23E+05 6.17E−04 6.00E−09 n = 10 SEM 1.99E+044.34E−05 6.52E−10

Subsequently inhibitory activity of purified AIN457 (BatchEn/E-10333/53; 0.54 mg/ml) on huIL-17 is evaluated. IC₅₀ values areshown in Table 6. In these experiments, huIL-17R/Fc and a mouseanti-huIL-17 MAb are included as positive controls and Simulect® asnegative control.

TABLE 9 Neutralization of hu-IL-17 by the human anti-huIL-17 MAb AIN457in comparison with IL-17R/Fc, and a mouse anti-huIL-17 MAb (R&D System).AIN457 IL-17 R/Fc MAB 317 IC₅₀ ± SEM IC₅₀ ± SEM IC₅₀ ± SEM (n = 3*) (n =3) (n = 3) Recombinant 2.071 ± 0.116 nM 1.713 ± 0.305 nM 12.226 ± 2.050nM huIL-17 @ 1.87 nM (30 ng/ml) *Means and SEM are calculated from threedifferent and independent experiments.

In conclusion, AIN457 abrogates the IL-17-dependent secretion of huIL-6by human dermal fibroblasts. The potency is comparable to that ofhuIL-17R/Fc and superior to that of a commercially available mouseanti-huIL-17 MAb. It is interesting to note that a more completeinhibition is observed with AIN457 than with IL-17R/Fc.

Example 3 Purity and Partial Amino Acid Sequences of Heavy and LightChain Amino Acid Sequencing

Amino-terminal amino acid sequences of V_(L) and V_(H) regions: Thefirst 48 amino-acid residues of the heavy and the light chain for twoanti-IL-17A antibodies, clone 110-7 (see table 4) and 110-28 (see table4), are determined by Edman degradation. The amino-acid sequence isidentical for both clones. The GeneBank is searched by blast analysisand the most homologous DNA sequence found is used to design the cloningprimers.

Molecular cloning of the VL and VH regions: Total RNA is prepared from2×10⁷ hybridoma cells (clone 110-7, clone 110-28) with the RNeasy MidiKit according to the vendor's protocol (Quiagen Hilden Germany). TotalRNA is eluted in 200 μl RNase-free water and stored at −80° C. The firststrand cDNA synthesis is carried out with M-MLV reverse transcriptase(Promega, Madison, Wis.), oligo-dT primer, PCR nucleotide mix (dNTPs)and RNAsin inhibitor (Roche, Mannheim). Five μg of total RNA is mixedwith 1 μl oligo-dT primer (0.5 μg/μl), and RNase-free water is added toa final volume of 36 μl. The mixture is incubated at 70° C. for 10minutes and then stored on ice. While on ice, the following reagents areadded: 10 μl 5×RT buffer, 41 dNTPs (10 mM each), 2 μl RNasin and 1 μlM-MLV reverse transcriptase. The reaction is carried out at 42° C. for 1hour.

The PCR reaction is assembled using 4 μl of cDNA template, 2 μl of eachprimer at 10 μM each (see below and Tables 10 and 11 for overview) 20 μlof 2× Qiamix (containing Buffer, dNTP's, TAQPolymerase) and 1 μl of PwoDNA polymerase in a total volume of 40 μl. The PCR conditions are setfor 35 cycles of 94° C. for 15 seconds, 55° C. for 20 seconds and 72° C.for 30 seconds. The PCR product is subcloned into the pCR4-TOPO-Zero(Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) cloning vector. Several clones are pickedfrom each reaction and the nucleotide sequence determined by Solvias AG(Basel), using the primers MV432 (SEQ ID NO: 21), MV433 (SEQ ID NO: 22),MV434 (SEQ ID NO: 23), MV435 (SEQ ID NO: 14), and standard primers inthe vector DNA.

The cDNA encoding the heavy chain is amplified using the primer pairsMV416 (SEQ ID NO: 15)/#265 (SEQ ID NO: 16) and MV418 (SEQ ID NO:17)/#265 (SEQ ID NO: 16). The primers cover the nucleotide sequencescorresponding to the following amino acid positions of the heavy chain:MV416 position −19/−13 (signal peptide); MV418 position +147; #265position +253/+259. Position +1 is the first amino acid of the matureprotein.

The cDNA encoding the light chain is amplified using the primer pairsMV417 (SEQ ID NO: 18)/#223 (SEQ ID NO: 19) and MV419 (SEQ ID NO:20)/#223 (SEQ ID NO: 19). The primers cover the nucleotide sequencescorresponding to the following amino-acid positions of the light chain:MV417 position −20/−14 (signal peptide); MV419 position +1/+7; #223position +210/+215. This approach permitted to make two independent PCRamplifications for each immunoglobulin chain, resulting in twoindependently established DNA sequences.

Results and Discussion

The cloned PCR products coding for the heavy and light chain from twohybridomas (110-7 and 110-28, see Table 4 above) are characterized byDNA sequencing. Five and six independent sequences are used to assemblethe light and heavy chain sequences. The light chain cDNAs are allidentical and covere the entire coding sequence (amino acid position −20to +215). The heavy chain cDNAs had 2 different mismatches in one cDNAeach. These are excluded from the final sequence, which extends from theinitiation codon to the end of the hinge region after the constantdomain 1 (amino acid position −19 to +238). The sequences for bothhybridomas are identical. The cDNA obtained from hybridoma 110-28 isselected and used for all further expression work. SEQ ID NO: 7 (cDNA ofheavy chain of AIN457), SEQ ID NO: 8 (amino acid sequence of heavy chainof AIN457), SEQ ID NO: 9 (cDNA of light chain of AIN457) and SEQ ID NO:10 (amino acid sequence of AIN457) show the DNA sequence coding for thelight and heavy chain of AIN457, along with the protein sequence and theposition of the primers used for PCR amplification and DNA sequencing.The DNA sequences have been registered in PlasNova, accession numberNPL003689 for the heavy chain, and accession number NPL003690 for thelight chain.

The amino acid sequence found by cDNA cloning is identical to thatpreviously obtained by Edman degradation of the purified immunoglobulinheavy and light chains, indicating that the correct cDNA has beencloned.

TABLE 10 Nucleotide and amino-acid sequence of the light chainThe amino-acid sequence coding for the variable domain is bold and underlined. The oligonucleotide primers used for cloning are indicated (underlined).SEQ ID NO: 24 MV417ACCATGGAAACCCCAGCGGAGCTTCTCTTCCTCCTGCTACTCTGGCTCCCAGATACCACC   1---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+  60SEQ ID NO: 26TGGTACCTTTGGGGTCGCCTCGAAGAGAAGGAGGACGATGAGACCGAGGGTCTATGGTGGSEQ ID NO: 25 T  M  E  T  P  A  E  L  L  F  L  L  L  L  W  L  P  D  T  T— MV419 GGAGAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGGCACCCTGTCTTTGTCTCCAGGGGAAAGAGCC  61---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 120CCTCTTTAACACAACTGCGTCAGAGGTCCGTGGGACAGAAACAGAGGTCCCCTTTCTCGG G  E  I  V  L  T  Q  S  P  G  T  L  S  L  S  P  G  E  R  A —ACCCTCTCCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTGTTAGCAGCAGCTACTTAGCCTGGTACCAGCAG 121---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 180TGGGAGAGGACGTCCCGGTCAGTCTCACAATCGTCGTCGATGAATCGGACCATGGTCGTCT  L  S  C  R  A  S  Q  S  V  S  S  S  Y  L  A  W  Y  Q  Q —AAACCTGGCCAGGCTCCCAGGCTCCTCATCTATGGTGCATCCAGCAGGGCCACTGGCATC 181---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 240TTTGGACCGGTCCGAGGGTCCGAGGAGTAGATACCACGTAGGTCGTCCCGGTGACCGTAGK  P  G  Q  A  P  R  L  L  I  Y  G  A  S  S  R  A  T  G  I —CCAGACAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAGCAGACTG 241---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 300GGTCTGTCCAAGTCACCGTCACCCAGACCCTGTCTGAAGTGAGAGTGGTAGTCGTCTGACP  D  R  F  S  G  S  G  S  G  T  D  F  T  L  T  I  S  R  L —GAGCCTGAAGATTTTGCAGTGTATTACTGTCAGCAGTATGGTAGCTCACCGTGCACCTTC 301---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 360CTCGGACTTCTAAAACGTCACATAATGACAGTCGTCATACCATCGAGTGGAGCGTGGAAGE  P  E  D  F  A  V  Y  Y  C  Q  Q  Y  G  S  S  P  C  T  F —GGCCAAGGGACACGACTGGAGATTAAACGAACTGTGGCTGCACCATCTGTCTTCATCTTC 361---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 420CCGGTTCCCTGTGCTGACCTCTAATTTGCTTGACACCGACGTGGTAGACAGAAGTAGAAGG  Q  G  T  R  L  E  I  K  R   T  V  A  A  P  S  V  F  I  F —CCGCCATCTGATGAGCAGTTGAAATCTGGAACTGCCTCTGTTGTGTGCCTGCTGAATAAC 421---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 480GGCGGTAGACTACTCGTCAACTTTAGACCTTGACGGAGACAACACACGGACGACTTATTGP  P  S  D  E  Q  L  K  S  G  T  A  S  V  V  C  L  L  N  N —TTCTATCCCAGAGAGGCCAAAGTACAGTGGAAGGTGGATAACGCCCTCCAATCGGGTAAC 481---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 540AAGATAGGGTCTCTCCGGTTTCATGTCACCTTCCACCTATTGCGGGAGGTTAGCCCATTGF  Y  P  R  E  A  K  V  Q  W  K  V  D  N  A  L  Q  S  G  N —TCCCAGGAGAGTGTCACAGAGCAGGACAGCAAGGACAGCACCTACAGCCTCAGCAGCACC 541---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 600AGGGTCCTCTCACAGTGTCTCGTCCTGTCGTTCCTGTCGTGGATGTCGGAGTCGTCGTGGS  Q  E  S  V  T  E  Q  D  S  K  D  S  T  Y  S  L  S  S  T —CTGACGCTGAGCAAAGCAGACTACGAGAAACACAAAGTCTACGCCTGCGAAGTCACCCAT 601---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 660GACTGCGACTCGTTTCGTCTGATGCTCTTTGTGTTTCAGATGCGGACGCTTCAGTGGGTAL  T  L  S  K  A  D  Y  E  K  H  K  V  Y  A  C  E  V  T  H —CAGGGCCTGAGCTCGCCCGTCACAAAGAGCTTCAACAGGGGAGAGTGTTAG 661---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+- 711GTCCCGGACTCGAGCGGGCAGTGTTTCTCGAAGTTGTCCCCTCTCACAATCQ  G  L  S  S  P  V  T  K  S  F  N  R  G  E  C  * —

TABLE 11 Nucleotide and amino-acid sequence of the heavy chainThe amino-acid sequence coding for the variable domain is bold and underlined. The oligonucleotide primers used for cloning and sequencing are indicated.SEQ ID NO: 27 MV416ACCATGGAATTGGGGCTGAGCTGGGTTTTCCTTGTTGCTATTTTAGAAGGTGTCCACTGT   1---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+  60SEQ ID NO: 29TGGTACCTTAACCCCGACTCGACCCAAAAGGAACAACGATAAAATCTTCCACAGGTGACASEQ ID NO: 28 T  M  E  L  G  L  S  W  V  F  L  V  A  I  L  E  G  V  H  C— MV418 GAGGTGCAGTTGGTGGAGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGTCCAGCCTGGGGGGTCCCTGAGACTC  61---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 120CTCCACGTCAACCACCTCAGACCCCCTCCGAACCAGGTCGGACCCCCCAGGGACTCTGAGE  V  Q  L  V  E  S  G  G  G  L  V  Q  P  G  G  S  L  R  L —TCCTGTGCAGCCTCTGGATTCACCTTTAGTAACTATTGGATGAACTGGGTCCGCCAGGCT 121---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 180AGGACACGTCGGAGACCTAAGTGGAAATCATTGATAACCTACTTGACCCAGGCGGTCCGAS  C  A  A  S  G  F  T  F  S  N  Y  W  M  N  W  V  R  Q  A —CCAGGGAAAGGGCTGGAGTGGGTGGCCGCCATAAACCAAGATGGAAGTGAGAAATACTAT 181---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 240GGTCCCTTTCCCGACCTCACCCACCGGCGGTATTTGGTTCTACCTTCACTCTTTATGATAP  G  K  G  L  E  W  V  A  A  I  N  Q  D  G  S  E  K  Y  Y —GTGGGCTCTGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAACTCACTGTAT 241---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 300CACCCGAGACACTTCCCGGCTAAGTGGTAGAGGTCTCTGTTGCGGTTCTTGAGTGACATAV  G  S  V  K  G  R  F  T  I  S  R  D  N  A  K  N  S  L  Y — MV432CTGCAAATGAACAGCCTGAGAGTCGAGGACACGGCTGTGTATTACTGTGTGAGGGACTAT 301---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 360GACGTTTACTTGTCGGACTCTCAGCTCCTGTGCCGACACATAATGACACACTCCCTGATAL  Q  M  N  S  L  R  V  E  D  T  A  V  Y  Y  C  V  R  D  Y —TACGATATTTTGACCGATTATTACATCCACTATTGGTACTTCGATCTCTGGGGCCGTGGC 361---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 420ATGCTATAAAACTGGCTAATAATGTAGGTGATAACCATGAAGCTAGAGACCCCGGCACCGY  D  I  L  T  D  Y  Y  I  H  Y  W  Y  F  D  L  W  G  R  G — MV433ACCCTGGTCACTGTCTCCTCAGCCTCCACCAAGGGCCCATCGGTCTTCCCCCTGGCACCC 421---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 480 MV434TGGGACCAGTGACAGAGGAGTCGGAGG TGGTTCCCGGGTAGCCAGAA GGGGGACCGTGGGT  L  V  T  V  S  S   A  S  T  K  G  P  S  V  F  P  L  A  P —TCCTCCAAGAGCACCTCTGGGGGCACAGCGGCCCTGGGCTGCCTGGTCAAGGACTACTTC 481---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 540AGGAGGTTCTCGTGGAGACCCCCGTGTCGCCGGGACCCGACGGACCAGTTCCTGATGAAGS  S  K  S  T  S  G  G  T  A  A  L  G  C  L  V  K  D  Y  F —CCCGAACCGGTGACGGTGTCGTGGAACTCAGGCGCCCTGACCAGCGGCGTGCACACCTTC 541---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 600GGGCTTGGCCACTGCCACAGCACCTTGAGTCCGCGGGACTGGTCGCCGCACGTGTGGAAGP  E  P  V  T  V  S  W  N  S  G  A  L  T  S  G  V  H  T  F —CCGGCTGTCCTACAGTCCTCAGGACTCTACTCCCTCAGCAGCGTGGTGACCGTGCCCTCC 601---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 660GGCCGACAGGATGTCAGGAGTCCTGAGATGAGGGAGTCGTCGCACCACTGGCACGGGAGGP  A  V  L  Q  S  S  G  L  Y  S  L  S  S  V  V  T  V  P  S —AGCAGCTTGGGCACCCAGACCTACATCTGCAACGTGAATCACAAGCCCAGCAACACCAAG 661---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 720 MV435TCGTCGAACCCGTGGGTCTGGATGTAGACGTTGCACTTAGTGTTCGGGTCGTTGTGGTT CS  S  L  G  T  Q  T  Y  I  C  N  V  N  H  K  P  S  N  T  K —GTGGACAAGAGAGTTGAGCCCAAATCTTGTGACAAAACTCACACATGCCCACCGTGCCCA 721---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 780CACCTGTTCTCTCAACTCGGGTTTAGAACACTGTTTTGAGTGTGTACGGGTGGCACGGGTV  D  K  R  V  E  P  K  S  C  D  K  T  H  T  C  P  P  C  P — TAA 781 ---783 ATT *

Example 4 Three-Dimensional Structure of the Fab Fragment of the AntiHuman IL-17A Monoclonal Antibody AIN457

In order to determine the conformation of theComplementarity-Determining Regions (CDR's) and the structure of theantigen-binding site of AIN457, the Fab fragment is generated,crystallized and its X-ray structure is determined by proteincrystallography.

Method: The Fab fragment of NVP-AIN457 is produced by papain cleavagefrom the whole antibody and purified by protein A chromatographyfollowed by size-exclusion chromatography. The purified material is thenconcentrated by ultrafiltration to 20 mg/ml in 10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 25mM NaCl, 5 mM TCEP. Crystals are grown by the technique of vapordiffusion in hanging drops at 19° C., from 2.0M ammonium sulfate, 5% PEG400, 0.1M Na MES pH 6.5. They are in space group P2₁2₁2₁ with unit celldimensions a=90.3 Å, b=106.7 Å, c=131.4 Å and 2 Fab molecules perasymmetric unit. Prior to X-ray data collection, a single crystal ofAIN457 Fab is cross-linked with glutaraldehyde using the method of Lusty(J. Appl. Cryst. (1999) 32, 106-112) and then transferred to a solutioncontaining 2.0M Li₂SO₄, 2% PEG 400, and 0.1M Na MES pH 6.5. The crystalis subsequently mounted in a cryo-loop and flash-frozen for datacollection at 95K. 180 diffraction images corresponding to 1.0 degoscillation each are recorded. The diffraction data are processed withthe HKL program suite. The structure is determined to 2.5 Å resolutionby molecular replacement. The structure is then refined by torsion angledynamics and energy minimization using the program CNX.

Results: Two AIN457 Fab molecules are present in the asymmetric unit ofthe crystal, with the H-CDR3 loop of both Fab molecules involved inprotein-protein contacts to the H-CDR3 loop of symmetry-related Fabs.The two Fab molecules show different elbow angles but have otherwiseessentially identical CDR loop conformations (see Table 12 for aminoacid sequence of the CDR loops). The H-CDR1 loop adopts the expectedH1:1 canonical structure, while the conformation of the H-CDR2 loopmatches that of canonical structure H2:3A. The H-CDR3 loop of the AIN457antibody is exceptionally long, comprising 18 residues between Kabatpositions 94 (Arg 1198) and 101 (Asp H115). It shows the typical bulgedtorso structure stabilized by a salt bridge between the Arg side-chainin position 94 (Arg H98) and the Asp carboxylate group in position H101(Asp H115), and by an H-bonded interaction between the side-chain of TrpH117 and the main-chain carbonyl group of Phe H114. The head of theH-CDR3 loop has the structure of a long, twisted beta-hairpin with asecond beta-bulge at its base and a type I′ beta-turn at its apex. Astriking feature of the AIN457 H-CDR3 loop is its very high content inaromatic residues: 6 tyrosines, 2 tryptophanes, 1 phenylalanine. Sinceall other CDR loops contribute 1 more tyrosine each, theantigen-combining site of AIN457 possesses 11 tyrosines in total. Theconformations of the L-CDR1 and L-CDR2 loops correspond to canonicalstructures L1:6 and L2:1, respectively. In contrast to H-CDR3, theL-CDR3 loop is short (6 residues) and shows the commonly observedcanonical structure L3:1, with a cis-proline at its tip (Pro L96), aglutamine at Kabat position 90 (Gln L91) and a threonine at Kabatposition 97 (Thr L98). However, a very unusual feature of the AIN457L-CDR3 loop is the presence of a cysteine residue after the cis-proline(Cys L97). The side-chain of Cys L97 is at the bottom of a shallowdepression located at the V_(L)-V_(H) interface and lined by residuesTrp H112, Trp 1147 and Tyr L92.

TABLE 12Table 12 : Amino acid sequences of the hypervariable regions of the  AIN457 monoclonal antibodies, based on the Kabat definition and as  determined by the X-ray analysis, using the approach of Chothia and coworkers. Amino acid highlighted in bold are part of the CDR loops,while those shown in plain style are part of the antibody framework.Light-chain ○ L-CDR1 Kabat definition R-A-S-Q-S-V-S-S-S-Y-L-A(SEQ ID NO: 4) Chothia/X-ray definition R-A-S-Q-S-V-S-S-S-Y-L-A(SEQ ID NO: 4) ○ L-CDR2 Kabat definition G-A-S-S-R-A-T (SEQ ID NO: 5)Chothia/X-ray definition G-A-S-S-R-A-T (SEQ ID NO: 5) ○ L-CDR3Kabat definition Q-Q-Y-G-S-S-P-C-T (SEQ ID NO: 6)Chothia/X-ray definition Q-Q-Y-G-S-S-P-C-T (SEQ ID NO: 6) Heavy-chain ○H-CDR1 Kabat definition N-Y-W-M-N (SEQ ID NO: 1)Chothia/X-ray definition G-F-T-F-S-N-Y-W-M-N (SEQ ID NO: 11) ○ H-CDR2Kabat definition A-I-N-Q-D-G-S-E-K-Y-Y-V-G-S-V-K-G (SEQ ID NO: 2)Chothia/X-ray definition A-I-N-Q-D-G-S-E-K-Y-Y (SEQ ID NO: 12) ○ H-CDR3Kabat definition D-Y-Y-D-I-L-T-D-Y-Y-I-H-Y-W-Y-F-D-L (SEQ ID NO: 3)Chothia/X-ray definition C-V-R-D-Y-Y-D-I-L-T-D-Y-Y-I-H-Y-W- Y-F-D-L-W-G(SEQ ID NO: 13)

1. A polynucleotide construct that encodes an immunoglobulin heavy chainof an IL-17 binding molecule or antigen-binding fragment thereofcomprising a heavy chain constant domain and a heavy chain variabledomain, wherein said heavy chain variable domain comprises frameworkregions and the three CDRs of SEQ ID NO:8.
 2. A polynucleotide constructthat encodes an immunoglobulin light chain of an IL-17 binding moleculeor antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising, a light chain constantdomain and a light chain variable domain, wherein said light chainvariable domain comprises framework regions and the three CDRs of SEQ IDNO:10.
 3. An isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consistingof a) a polynucleotide that encodes an amino acid sequence comprisingSEQ ID NO:8, b) a polynucleotide that encodes an amino acid sequencecomprising SEQ ID NO:10, c) a polynucleotide that encodes an amino acidsequence comprising the three CDRs of SEQ ID NO:8, d) a polynucleotidethat encodes an amino acid sequence comprising the three CDRs of SEQ IDNO:10, e) a polynucleotide that encodes an amino acid sequencecomprising the three CDRs of SEQ ID NO:8 and the three CDRs of SEQ IDNO:10, and f) a polynucleotide that encodes an amino acid sequencecomprising SEQ ID NO:8 and SEQ ID NO:10.
 4. The polynucleotide constructaccording to claim 1, wherein the three CDRs of SEQ ID NO:8 are setforth in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, and SEQ ID NO:3.
 5. Thepolynucleotide construct according to claim 1, wherein the three CDRs ofSEQ ID NO:8 are set forth in SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, and SEQ IDNO:13.
 6. The polynucleotide according to claim 3, a) wherein the threeCDRs of SEQ ID NO:8 are set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, and SEQID NO:3 and wherein the three CDRs of SEQ ID NO:10 are set forth in SEQID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, and SEQ ID NO:6; or b) wherein the three CDRs ofSEQ ID NO:8 are set forth in SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, and SEQ IDNO:13 and wherein the three CDRs of SEQ ID NO:10 are set forth in SEQ IDNO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, and SEQ ID NO:6.
 7. An expression vector able toreplicate in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell which comprises thepolynucleotide according to claim
 3. 8. A prokaryotic or eukaryotic hostcell comprising the expression vector according to claim
 7. 9. A processfor the production of an IL-17 binding molecule, comprising (i)culturing the host cell of claim 8 to yield a cell culture and (ii)recovering a polypeptide expressed by the polynucleotide from said cellculture.
 10. A polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide as set forth inclaim
 3. 11. An isolated polynucleotide selected from the groupconsisting of a) a polynucleotide that encodes an amino acid sequencecomprising SEQ ID NO:8, b) a polynucleotide that encodes an amino acidsequence comprising SEQ ID NO:10, c) a polynucleotide that encodes anamino acid sequence comprising the three CDRs of SEQ ID NO:8 and thethree CDRs of SEQ ID NO:10, and f) a polynucleotide that encodes anamino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:8 and SEQ ID NO:10.
 12. AnIL-17 binding molecule, comprising a heavy chain variable domain (V_(H))and a light chain variable domain (V_(L)), wherein said IL-17 bindingmolecule is encoded by a polynucleotide as set forth in claim
 11. 13.The IL-17 binding molecule according to claim 12, wherein the IL-17binding molecule is a human antibody.
 14. The IL-17 binding moleculeaccording to claim 12, wherein said IL-17 binding molecule inhibits theactivity of 1 nM of human IL-17 at a concentration of less than 5 nM by50%.
 15. An IL-17 binding molecule comprising a heavy chain variabledomain (V_(H)) and a light chain variable domain (V_(L)): a) whereinsaid V_(H) comprises CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3, said CDR1 having the aminoacid sequence SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:11, said CDR2 having the aminoacid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:12, and said CDR3 having theamino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:13, or direct CDRequivalents thereof; and b) wherein said V_(L) comprises CDR1′, CDR2′and CDR3′, said CDR1′ having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:4, saidCDR2′ having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:5, and said CDR3′ havingthe amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:6 or direct CDR′ equivalents thereofwherein said IL-17 binding molecule inhibits the activity of 1 nM ofhuman IL-17 at a concentration of less than 5 nM by 50%.
 16. A methodfor treating an IL-17 mediated disease or disorder or an inflammatorydisease or disorder comprising administering to a subject in needthereof an IL-17 binding molecule according to claim
 12. 17. A methodfor administering an IL-17 binding molecule to a subject, comprisingadministering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical compositioncomprising an IL-17 binding molecule according to claim
 12. 18. A methodfor treating an IL-17 mediated disease or disorder or an inflammatorydisease or disorder comprising administering to a subject in needthereof an IL-17 binding molecule according to claim 15.